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| − | [[File:Snowden HK.jpg|thumb|250px|Hong Kong Rally to Support Snowden, Garden Road, Central, [[Hong Kong]], June 15, 2013.]]
| + | Where have all the good men gone |
| − | '''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, | + | And where are all the gods? |
| | + | Where's the street-wise Hercules |
| | + | To fight the rising odds? |
| | + | Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed? |
| | + | Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need |
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| − | 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 prime minister of [[Bolivia]] detained in an inept attempt to intercept Snowden.
| + | [Chorus:] |
| | + | I need a hero |
| | + | I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night |
| | + | He's gotta be strong |
| | + | And he's gotta be fast |
| | + | And he's gotta be fresh from the fight |
| | + | I need a hero |
| | + | I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light |
| | + | He's gotta be sure |
| | + | And it's gotta be soon |
| | + | And he's gotta be larger than life |
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| − | Snowden is a [[video game]] player.<ref>http://www.viralread.com/2013/06/15/who-is-edward-snowden-background-on-nsa-leaker-emerges/</ref>
| + | Somewhere after midnight |
| − |
| + | In my wildest fantasy |
| − | Snowden told the British left wing newspaper [[The Guardian]]:
| + | Somewhere just beyond my reach |
| | + | There's someone reaching back for me |
| | + | Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat |
| | + | It's gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet |
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| − | * "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>
| + | [Chorus] |
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| − | The liberal ''Washington Post'' quotes him as saying:
| + | Up where the mountains meet the heavens above |
| | + | Out where the lightning splits the sea |
| | + | I would swear that there's someone somewhere |
| | + | Watching me |
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| − | * "Allowing the U.S. government to intimidate its people with threats of retaliation for revealing wrongdoing is contrary to the public interest."<ref> [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/intelligence-leaders-push-back-on-leakers-media/2013/06/09/fff80160-d122-11e2-a73e-826d299ff459_story.html Edward Snowden comes forward as source of NSA leaks], ''Washington Post''</ref>
| + | Through the wind and the chill and the rain |
| | + | And the storm and the flood |
| | + | I can feel his approach |
| | + | Like the fire in my blood |
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| − | 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> Thereupon Russian government allowed Snowden to stay for three years in Russia.<ref>http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28689231</ref>
| + | [Chorus] |
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| − | 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>
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| − | Snowden is a [[Libertarianism|Libertarian]].<ref>http://www.salon.com/2013/06/10/edward_snowden_a_libertarian_hero/</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | ==Political reaction==
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| − | [[File:Snowden hero.jpg|thumb|Activist in New York's Union Square, June 10, 2013.]]
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| − | [[John Boehner]] called Snowden a "traitor" who committed a "giant violation of the law" that put Americans at risk.<ref> [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/11/boehner-describes-nsa-leaker-traitor/#ixzz2WBqMieaD Boehner describes NSA leaker as 'traitor']</ref> Numerous other high ranking officials have hawkishly demanded his extradition from the [[People's Republic of China]]. From China, however, reactions have been supportive, with calls by politicians, and various civil liberties organizations, to implore [[Beijing]] to block extradition attempts, on grounds of national security.
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| − | | |
| − | <blockquote>
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| − | While many blasted Snowden, Republican Senator [[Rand Paul]] of Kentucky, a member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee and one of the chamber's most conservative members, said, "it's going to be an open question how this young man is judged."
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| − | "If he goes to an independent third country like Iceland and if he refuses to talk to any sort of formal government about this, I think there's a chance that he'll be seen as an advocate of privacy." [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-security-washingtonbre95m08u-20130623,0,2374212.story]
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| − | </blockquote>
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| − | | |
| − | ==Notes==
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| − | <references />
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| − | ==See also==
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| − | *[[Bradley Manning]]
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| − | *[[Julian Assange]]
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| − | *[[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court]]
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | *[http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/edward-snowden-is-no-traitor/ Edward Snowden Is No Traitor]
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| − | {{DEFAULTSORT:Snowden, Edward J.}}
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| − | [[Category:Espionage]]
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