Snowden on the run

“He wanted a simple life.” ~Attorney Albert Ho

I'm at the point where I don't know what to make of of our hapless leaker. Edward Snowden's story keeps changing and with every new iteration he contradicts his earlier declarations. The only thing clearly true at the moment is he has fled Hong Kong. Certainly he didn't research the legal system there before he decided it was the perfect place to seek asylum.

Then began a two-hour conversation during which Mr. Snowden was deeply dismayed to learn that he could spend years in prison without access to a computer during litigation over whether he would be granted asylum here or surrendered to the United States, Mr. Ho said.

Mr. Ho who is, or was, his legal counsel in Hong Kong advises Snowden is a loner who had no real support system until he sought their counsel. Apparently it didn't occur to Snowden that he would certainly be charged with a serious crime and seeking asylum in a place closely connected to one of our greatest international rivals would be a big deal for both the US and his possible hosts. I imagine he was shocked to learn the Hong Kong government would be glad to get rid of him.

Meanwhile, the biggest news today is Snowden now says he got the Booz Allen job for the express purpose of stealing classified documents. Which also suggests he lied to Glenn Greenwald since Glenn specifically refuted that possibility in the beginning. So much for the principled civil rights activist who was moved to expose domestic surveillance out of horror when he realized its scope talking point.

At this point Snowden looks like little more than a clueless kid, a wannabe anarchist with delusions of grandeur and probably complicated self-esteem issues who desperately wanted attention. Which leaves me torn somewhere between scorn and pity for him.