> I'm getting more and more skeptical of any claims that all of Snowden's actions are part of some brilliant plan.
This is a very dynamic situation. I'm not going to fault the guy for trying, but he is obviously out-gunned. Everyday he avoids U.S. custody is a win. Personally, I think there needs to be greater efforts made at home to protect his status as a whistle blower. The current administration obviously isn't losing their interest in getting him. Perhaps the next one will be different (not holding my breath).
He is already a civilian and will not be court marshalled, which is why Bradley Manning is in a military prison. Ellsberg enjoyed the full rights of being a civilian when he leaked from RAND Corporation. The thing that a lot of people do not get is that the Snowden case would go through the civilian courts system. Sure the more sensitive subjects would be subject to injunctions and have be argued before being admitted to court, but the same thing is going to happen with the EFF case in the Northern District of California.
I tend to agree with Ellsberg regarding the unlikelihood of Snowden being free on bail. I think this government will claim whatever they need to lock him up and throw away the key.
Flag waivers aren't going to mind because the government is "just trying to keep them safe".
This is a very dynamic situation. I'm not going to fault the guy for trying, but he is obviously out-gunned. Everyday he avoids U.S. custody is a win. Personally, I think there needs to be greater efforts made at home to protect his status as a whistle blower. The current administration obviously isn't losing their interest in getting him. Perhaps the next one will be different (not holding my breath).