Changes

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:

* "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>

* "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>

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 Snowden was apparently travelling on a passport that had been revoked.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>

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>

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>

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==

[[File:Snowden hero.jpg|thumb|Activist in New York's Union Square, June 10, 2013.]]

[[File:Snowden hero.jpg|thumb|Activist in New York's Union Square, June 10, 2013.]]

[[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.

[[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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