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[[File:Snowden HK.jpg|thumb|250px|Hong Kong Rally to Support Snowden, Garden Road, Central, [[Hong Kong]], June 15, 2013.]]

[[File:Snowden HK.jpg|thumb|250px|''Hong Kong Rally to Support Snowden'', Garden Road, Central, [[Hong Kong]], June 15, 2013.]]

'''Edward J. Snowden''' (Born June 21, 1983) is an American [[IT]] specialist and a former employee of defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton (a contractor for the [[National Security Agency]]). In June 2013 Snowden embarrassed [[Barack Obama]] by revealing the mass [[domestic surveillance]] program known as "[[PRISM]],". This is an internet snooping program run by the National Security Agency, as constituted by former [[George W. Bush|President George W. Bush]]. He explained to shocked Americans that the National Security Agency had in effect built a dossier on every man, woman and child in the [[United States of America]], and probably beyond borders,

'''Edward Joseph Snowden''' (born June 21, 1983) is an American [[IT]] specialist and a former employee of defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton (a contractor for the [[National Security Agency]]). In June 2013, Snowden embarrassed [[Barack Obama]] by revealing the mass domestic [[surveillance]] program known as "[[PRISM]],". This is an internet snooping program run by the National Security Agency, as constituted by former [[George W. Bush|President George W. Bush]]. He explained to shocked Americans that the National Security Agency had in effect built a dossier on every man, woman and child in the [[United States of America]], and many more beyond its borders.

The revelations made Snowden Obama's nemesis, and Obama has neglected most other issues, notably the downfall of the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] government in [[Egypt]] in his pursuit of the young man. At one point, Obama had [[Evo Morales]], the president of [[Bolivia]] detained in an inept attempt to intercept Snowden.  

The revelations made Snowden Obama's nemesis, and Obama has neglected most other issues, notably the downfall of the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] government in [[Egypt]] in his pursuit of the young man. At one point, Obama's diplomatic aides in Europe forced the private jet of [[Evo Morales]], the [[Bolivia]]n prime minister, to be stopped and searched in an inept attempt to intercept Snowden.  

Snowden is a [[video game]] player.<ref>http://www.viralread.com/2013/06/15/who-is-edward-snowden-background-on-nsa-leaker-emerges/</ref>

Snowden is a [[video game]] player.<ref>http://www.viralread.com/2013/06/15/who-is-edward-snowden-background-on-nsa-leaker-emerges</ref>

   

   

Snowden told the British left wing newspaper [[The Guardian]]:

Snowden told the British left wing newspaper [[The Guardian]]:

* "I will be satisfied if the federation of secret law, unequal pardon and irresistible executive powers that rule the world that I love are revealed even for an instant."<ref> [http://www.humanevents.com/2013/06/10/meet-the-nsa-leaker/ Meet the NSA leaker], ''[[Human Events]]''</ref>

* "I will be satisfied if the federation of secret law, unequal pardon and irresistible executive powers that rule the world that I love are revealed even for an instant."<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/2013/06/10/meet-the-nsa-leaker Meet the NSA leaker], ''[[Human Events]]''</ref>

The liberal ''Washington Post'' quotes him as saying:

The liberal ''Washington Post'' quotes him as saying:

After leaking the information in question, Snowden stayed in Hong Kong for a while; he then left China and went to Russia en route to seeking asylum in [[Ecuador]]. Snowden was apparently travelling on a passport that had been revoked. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/23/obama-administration-confirms-talking-to-hong-kong-about-snowden/ "US revokes NSA leaker Edward Snowden's passport, as he reportedly seeks asylum in Ecuador," Fox News, 23 June 2013]</ref> The [[Wikileaks]] organization has helped Snowden to stay ahead of Obama's grasp. <ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/06/23/with-wikileaks-help-nsa-leaker-snowden-seeks-asylum-in-ecuador-via-moscow/ "With WikiLeaks' Help, NSA Leaker Snowden Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Via Moscow," Forbes, 23 June 2013]</ref> The president of Ecuador [[Rafael Correa]] explained that Snowden cannot go to Ecuador.<ref>http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2013/06/30/ecuador-president-says-snowden-cannot-leave-moscow/</ref>

After leaking the information in question, Snowden stayed in Hong Kong for a while; he then left China and went to Russia en route to seeking asylum in [[Ecuador]]. Snowden was apparently travelling on a passport that had been revoked. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/23/obama-administration-confirms-talking-to-hong-kong-about-snowden/ "US revokes NSA leaker Edward Snowden's passport, as he reportedly seeks asylum in Ecuador," Fox News, 23 June 2013]</ref> The [[Wikileaks]] organization has helped Snowden to stay ahead of Obama's grasp. <ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/06/23/with-wikileaks-help-nsa-leaker-snowden-seeks-asylum-in-ecuador-via-moscow/ "With WikiLeaks' Help, NSA Leaker Snowden Seeks Asylum In Ecuador Via Moscow," Forbes, 23 June 2013]</ref> The president of Ecuador [[Rafael Correa]] explained that Snowden cannot go to Ecuador.<ref>http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2013/06/30/ecuador-president-says-snowden-cannot-leave-moscow/</ref>

As of July 6, 2013, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Venezuealan President Nicolas Maduro had offered asylum to Snowden.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23201774/</ref>

As of July 6, 2013, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had offered asylum to Snowden.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23201774/</ref>

==Political reaction==

==Political reaction==