NBC: Snowden's father floats terms for son's return

[flamingdem]

** there's no place like home, there's no place like home


He raises concerns about some of the people surrounding his son, including WikiLeaks.

The father of NSA leaker Edward Snowden has told the Justice Department that his son will probably return home under certain conditions, including no detention before trial and no gag order, NBC News reports.

Lonnie Snowden spoke NBC news investigative reporter MIchael Isikoff in an interview aired by NBC's Today program Friday morning.

He said he has not spoken with his son since Edward left the country last month and revealed classified information about the National Security Agency's surveillance and data-collection network.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/28/edward-snowden-nbc-today-show-nsa-return-home-traitor/2471273/

[UTUSN]

1. Yeah, "conditions," 'cause being Internet-Entitled allows for setting one's own conditions. n/t

[flamingdem]

3. Exactly, it's a case of "Internet Entitlement Syndrome"

otherwise known as nerd arse loser

[think]

2. Daniel Ellbergs hid out for 13 days, was called a traitor, and still had civil rights protected.

He believes Snowden's civil rights could be ignored due to the NDAA which permits military to indefinitely detain an American:

America's Edward Snowden problem
by Peter Lee Jun 28, '13

Ellsberg:

"The NDAA, National Defense Authorization Act, permits military custody indefinitely of an American citizen who's a civilian, and Snowden could very well find himself at Quantico, naked perhaps like Bradley was for a while, and be really incommunicado, as Bradley has been for three years with the single exception of being allowed to make a statement when he pled guilty to 10 charges. And that's the only chance he had to speak out. So I think Snowden has learned from that example."

~Snip~

Full article:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/World/WOR-01-280613.html

Food for thought....

[flamingdem]

5. I think Obama wants to downplay the whole thing

which is why he called him a 29 year old hacker yesterday rather than nsa employee

They want to know what he took, otherwise I don't see them letting it get out of hand because obviously many civil liberatarians would freak out

[arthritisR_US]

8. He should not be placed in indefinite detention and

his civil rights should absolutely be preserved. Other than that I don't think they are in any position to set conditions, JMO.

[flamingdem]

11. Not even a fast internet connection?

You know he's staying in Russia unless he gets that!

[arthritisR_US]

14. Serious? OMFG!

[flamingdem]

16. His lawyer in Hong Kong let that out of the bag, Snowden didn't want to be detained in HK

because he wouldn't have fast internet!

[arthritisR_US]

21. Well, you definitely brought me some levity this

morning..lol. In this case I say give him the high speed Internet but don't include the computer

[HardTimes99]

13. Ellsberg's civil rights were 'protected' if you ignore G. Gordon Liddy and

plans for Operation Gemstone:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gemstone

Oh well. Ancient history, eh?

[think]

17. Yes I do stand corrected. The Govt violated Ellsbergs civil rights

I was referring to the judge allowing Ellsberg to be on his own recognizance and that he had no gag orders placed upon him so he could speak freely before his trial.

I should have been clearer on that.

[msanthrope]

4. Interesting comment about Greenwald and Wikileaks...

Snowden's father also said he was concerned about some of the people who have surrounded his son, including WikiLeaks, since he has been on the run.

"I don't want to put him in peril, but I am concerned about those who surround him," he says. "I think WikiLeaks, if you've looked at past history, you know, their focus isn't necessarily the Constitution of the United States. It's simply to release as much information as possible."

Methinks we're going to hear a lot more about Snowden's medical condition in the coming weeks.

[flamingdem]

7. Does he have a medical condition?

Wikileaks virus maybe?

The dad sounds smart. Snowden might not be willing to look at Wikileaks as a manipultor yet

[msanthrope]

18. Why, yes. Yes he does. He has what Greenwald claims is adult onset

epilepsy with seizures. It explains the report that he was examined by an Ecudorian doctor upon landing in Russia.

The number one cause for adult onset epilepsy is alcoholism or drug abuse.

But it may not be a seizure disorder at all. Depakote is cross prescribed for both seizures and schizo affective disorders....I find it very interesting that his father is talking about not confining him before trial, etc, trying to answer concerns regarding captivity.

if you read this thread, MAdem and I discuss it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022981021

[flamingdem]

19. Thanks. That's fascinating. Of course the dad would be very concerned

even if it's largely an excuse for the govt to go easy on him

[msanthrope]

20. Of course. His medical condition would mean medically segregated custody....

particularly in the first few months. His father is rightfully concerned about federal custody..anybody should be.

[flamingdem]

22. fantastic thread

very good insights there

[JaneyVee]

6. This is getting ridiculous. Now his father has to beg for him to come home like a scolded child?

[HardTimes99]

9. I hate to break it to you, but USA Today's version and NBC's version

of this story have already been convincingly and thoroughly debunked right here on DU:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=521455

[flamingdem]

10. huh? this interview was done today

http://www.today.com/news/edward-snowdens-father-my-son-not-traitor-6C10480514

[HardTimes99]

12. Check Catherina's catch in DU's Late Breaking News forum (already

linked).

[flamingdem]

15. Why debunked? Sounds like the dad is arranging for a lawyer

and Wikileaks said as much after their lawyer rejected his case.

- that it would be an American lawyer

[HardTimes99]

23. Well, as I pointed out in the thread in LBN, there's light years of

difference between saying Snowden 'will return' if certain conditions are met and saying Snowden 'may' return (or "will probably return," as the amended version of the USA Today story now reads).

Perhaps 'debunked' is the wrong word to use -- perhaps better to say the original story was "subsequently qualified" -- but the father does not have the power to speak for his son, nor to arrange 'terms' for him. Unless I have totally missed something in the coverage like Snowden transferring power of attorney to his father or some such.

[flamingdem]

24. I'm guessing that there is a power struggle going on between the dad and Assange

The dad is willing to have his son stand trial and admits he committed espionage, but is not a traitor. Assange doesn't want to lose the propaganda coup he's got going. Plus, it put him back in the spotlight.

So Snowden is getting an earful and the dad may only be in contact with him via Wikileaks