[eli]

No need to jump to conspiracies. Is it really that crazy that France might just want to help an ally track down a desperately wanted fugitive? Surely they'd ask for our help if they thought a rogue intelligence agent was flying across the US.

[mark_l_watson]

Except, Snowden obviously didn't do this for personal gain. His life is probably over.

Compare this situation to a British citizen a few years ago who sold sensitive state secrets for money, and got the MAXIMUM PENALTY by UK law: 2 years in prison. Snowden who rightly or wrongly is acting from I believe are his own moral goals, may get the death penalty, tortured like Manning, or life in prison.

"desperately wanted fugitive"? I am curious about you, and why you use a phrase like this. Seriously, please explain your position on this.

[eli]

Maybe the French don't care what his motives were? I think I'd be generally disinclined to support people who publish state secrets if I were running a government.

But I'm not sure why you're confused. You disagree that he is a wanted fugitive? Or with my characterization that he's "desperately" wanted? I think the US would very much like him to return and face charges.

[mark_l_watson]

Reply to Eli's child post, for some reason there is no reply link under his comment:

I am confused by responses such as yours that only consider Snowden and not the public release of information about the NSA. I don't argue that Snowden should not get a year in jail after a fair trial. I personally think he has done the world a service and should get a walk, but a minimal jail sentence would be fair.

The NSA leaks are a big deal, and I believe an opportunity for our country to get its act together. Anyway, thanks for your comment.

So, I assume that you don't agree that our government would coerce foreign politicians. I wish that I could agree with you, but I can't.

[lttlrck]

How does the lack of personal gain justify anything?

[mark_l_watson]

To me, that Snowden has basically sacrificed his life to release information that he thought the public should know is key to whether or not he is a whistleblower,and thus deserve some form of protection. If you are agree with the Patriot Act and what the NSA is doing, then I respect your opinion but I don't agree with you.

[kaonashi]

How does the presence of personal gain impugn anything?

[milfot]

France would ask air force one to divert?

[eli]

Probably not... but not because they're being blackmailed by the NSA.