[jacobolus]

I think Snowden’s initial leak exposing widespread illegal action by the US intelligence community was a courageous act of conscience, and I think he did his best to reveal criminal behavior in what he considered to be a measured and responsible way. I think the US presidents since should have pardoned him and welcomed him to return to the USA (but I also understand the other side of this argument, and I think reasonable people can disagree on this question). But in light of the Ukraine war, it’s hard to trust his more recent motivations.

You have no problem with the president of the “Freedom of the Press Foundation” giving Putin a free pass for (a) mass murder of civilians and (b) systematic attack on freedom of the press in Russia and around the world? What do you imagine the Freedom of the Press Foundation is supposed to stand for?

Who am I supposed to be a stooge for? The people of Ukraine and their supporters? The (former) independent Russian press? A secret cabal of CIA-funded Ukrainian gay Jewish Nazis using their secret biolabs to turn us all into lizard people?

I’m all for holding the USA (and Britain, Germany, Saudia Arabia, Israel, China, Turkey, India, ...) accountable for censorship, crimes against journalists, illegal surveillance, etc., but the ongoing atrocities in Ukraine and linked press crackdown are without any doubt the most acute threat to freedom of the press (and more generally to Enlightenment values / classical liberalism / democracy) in the world in April 2022. Those who don’t even acknowledge that Russian actions are illegal and morally unjustifiable are completely undermining whatever principles they purported to hold.

[ncmncm]

I read this as you giving a free pass to CIA employees and contractors who murder US citizens and foreign innocents, and blaming "the USA" (i.e., us) for the murders, instead.

Oh, that wasn't what you meant?

Snowden has no ability to offer or withhold passes to anybody. Which you already knew.

[jacobolus]

> Snowden has no ability ...

He has the ability to resign as president of the Freedom of the Press Foundation. He should exercise it.

[ncmncm]

And you have the ability to stop making demands from your comfortable chair, in your comfortable house, in your secure neighborhood, of someone who has given all that up for your benefit.

[jacobolus]

I am on a safe comfortable bed in a safe comfortable flat in a safe comfortable city.

My friends in Ukraine are not so fortunate; they are profoundly unsafe and uncomfortable and they and many of their friends and family are now dead, refugees, or Russian prisoners, and their neighbors’ houses were turned to rubble.

Neither are the Russian journalists recently murdered or thrown in prison for nothing. Neither are the at least 14 journalists killed so far in Ukraine, some directly targeted by the Russian military.

If I were president of the Freedom of the Press foundation, I would either say something about it or resign. Someone who is under such grave threat (or so embarrassed/ashamed) that he cannot speak at all is in no position to remain president of the Freedom of the Press Foundation.

[sudosysgen]

Do you think that all NGO presidents living in the US should resign because of the abuses of their government? No? Then why are you calling out Snowden for hypocrisy?

[jacobolus]

I think presidents of human rights related NGOs should actively speak out against ongoing genocide, yes.

Presidents of environmental justice NGOs should speak out when governments (including those where they live) allow toxic sludge to flow into rivers.

Presidents of journalistic freedom NGOs should speak out when journalists are being killed, imprisoned, and censored.

Presidents of consumer rights NGOs should speak out when popular products kill consumers.

Presidents of veterans NGOs should speak out when veterans are denied healthcare.

Presidents of children’s rights NGOs should speak out when children are systematically abused.

Etc.

Fortunately, presidents of NGOs don’t fear for their life in the USA, because the USA is substantially governed by laws, and American residents enjoy freedom of speech and association. NGO presidents who criticize the US leadership don’t get defenestrated or disappeared to a gulag.

If someone is president of the Freedom of the Press Foundation and is not in a position to advocate for freedom of the press because they are so afraid for their life they must live in total silence (note though: Snowden did make one post specifically disavowing this scenario), then they are completely useless in that role, and their silence calls into question their past activities and motivations. At that point they should resign and pass the job to someone who can actually do it.

[ncmncm]

Not speaking says all that is needed.

And, I know you would do no different, in his shoes. But you are not, and never will be.