@Bigjames
Some spotters mulling about the airport that morning. Fortunately for them, the SCMP managed to screw them over royally as a heartfelt thanks for their small efforts supplying the SCMP with the photo. It seems screwing people over is Hong Kong's latest and best trick. Must be some fancy managerial savvy they're all acquiring at those big name US MBA schools.
@parabellum
In fact sir... it seems to be YOU who is not quite paying attention to the miscellaneous goings ons.
The nature of the information he is disclosing is irrelevant. Can't do the time? Don't do the crime.
Mr. Snowden has not once, but repeatedly stated he makes no illusions about the intentions and capabilities of the US government to shut him up one way or the other, and that it was his only intention to buy enough time so that the information he intended to disclose could be released in a proper manner. He has REPEATEDLY stated this. He seems therefore but all TOO aware of the consequences of his actions. By your own indifferent qualifier then, you seem to agree he _can_ do the crime since he is prepared to "do the time."
And although I grasp your callous point all too well, the fine art of nuance seems to completely lost on your military mind. The nature of his disclosure is in fact VITAL to the continued survival of our societies as we have been able to enjoy them for the last few hundred years. Secret courts? Secret edicts? Secret judgments? Have your cockpit checked for cracks in the windows next time. It seems the rot spilling out of China is getting to you.
Trawling the entire internet for personal information on the entire population beyond the scope and sanction of governmental authority just because they can? FOR SHAME. It's a bloody outrage. The secret court charged with overseeing this whole shambles stated no less in a secret opinion. How do we even know this? No thanks to you, that's or sure.
We've known for years these sorts of shenanigans were going on... now we've been handed tangible proof and more. The Nixon White House was sent packing in two short years after the Watergate scandal exploded in its face. To wit... a handful of ex-CIA contractors sifting through desk drawers in the middle of the night. Now the nation's intelligence services have been found with their tentacles in all the world's cookie jars at once.... who exactly should be doing time for what crime again?
Thank you Ed for your sacrifice. And good luck to you.