[josho]

I am not American, so perhaps it is that the rest of the world sees this differently than American's do.

Regarding Snowden fleeing, if you disagree with his choice then give this interview a read[1], it is with the whistleblower for the Pentagon papers. The opinion is that if Snowden didn't flee in today's climate then he likely would have ended up in isolation or Guantanamo.

As an outsider to the US it is interesting to observe that American's (on average) have a high distrust of their government, yet follow quite closely the US government's line. (Please note this is not intended to inflame, but it is an honest observation from an outsider that has observed many American's and is intended for you to reflect upon).

[1] http://www.salon.com/2013/06/14/daniel_ellsberg_edward_snowd...

[mpyne]

> The opinion is that if Snowden didn't flee in today's climate then he likely would have ended up in isolation or Guantanamo.

That's his opinion, and it's unfounded IMHO. Actual terrorists are increasingly and deliberately put on public trial in New York, and Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning got his (now her) trial as well.

[zevyoura]

Manning was held in effective solitary confinement for 9 months.

[mpyne]

Which had a lot to do with being in a military prison where joking with the guards about killing yourself actually could result in being placed in a Prevention of Suicide status. In any event, even with that Manning was transferred away from solitary in the first half of her detention and finished the trial outside of solitary (and thereby set the precedent for how later activist spies should be treated).