Snowden's Mental Ilness More Obvious

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright July 3, 2013
All Rights Reserved.                                      

              Faced with more rejections from his asylum applications, 29-year-old Edward Snowden showed no signs to shutting his pie hole, threatening the U.S. with more damaging disclosures.  While the press treats Snowden like he’s in his right state of mind, the more he speaks publicly the more foreign governments get that he’s not worth antagonizing the U.S. or, for that matter, losing foreign aid.  “I remain free and able to publish information that serves the public interest,” said Snowden, kicking dirt in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s face.  Putin said that if Snowden agrees to stop leaking classified information, he might consider his asylum.  Talking more has given Putin all the information he needs to know that Russian asylum would be a huge mistake for the wayward American.  In a letter to Ecuador, Snowden asserted the U.S. persecuted him illegally for revealing PRISM, its covert spying program.

             Snowden violated his confidentiality agreement with National Security Administration contractor Booz Allen Hamilton but, more importantly, U.S. espionage laws, requiring classified information to remain secret.  “No matter how many more days my life contains, I remain dedicated to the right for justice in the unequal world.  If any of those days ahead realize a contribution to the common good, the world will have the principles of Ecuador to thank,” said Snowden’s asylum application.  Ecuadorian President Raphael Correa and Putin have figured out that Snowden’s talking crazy, especially knowing, if granted asylum, he couldn’t be trusted not to embarrass their governments.  Snowden’s grandiosity, seeing himself as the world’s savior, reveals his clinical sickness, prompting foreign officials to discount his intentions and deny his asylum applications.

             Revealing his persecutory fears, Snowden blamed President Barack Obama for trying to block his asylum applications.  “While the public has cried out support of my shining light on this secret system of injustice, the government of the United states of America has responded with an extra-judicial manhunt costing my family, my freedom to travel, and my right to live peacefully without fear of illegal aggression,” Snowden wrote to Ecuador.  Snowden blames his persecution on the U.S. government, when if fact, he brought the mess on himself.  However many years he worked for the CIA or an NSA contractor, Snowden agreed from Day-1 to spy on domestic and foreign governments.  However he had a sudden change of heart in anyone’s guess.  Pointing fingers at the U.S. government for depriving him of his passport and what he calls “an extra-judicial manhunt” goes beyond the pale.

             Anointing himself the world’s savior against government spying is laughable.  Foreign leaders have seen through Snowden’s delusions and grandiosity, saying, in effect, we wouldn’t touch this guy with a 10-foot pole.  What’s tragic is how the liberal news media fails to report his obvious breakdown, lending credibility to his actions, much like they do WikiLeak’s founder Aussie-born Julian Assange, currently holed up in London at the Ecuadorian embassy.  What Assange and Snowden share in common is not their noble whistleblower motives but rather an attempt to blackmail governments.   Putin and Correa have figured out today’s finger points at the U.S., tomorrows would be Russia or Ecauador.  Traveling with WikiLeak’s activist Sarah Harrison has lent Snowden more credibility than he deserves.  When you look at his public statements it’s clear that he’s gone over the deep-end.

             Snowden’s pleas to America’s enemies—or at least old ones—show a cynical manipulation of old mistrust and hatred.  While Putin insists he won’t turn Snowden over the U.S. authorities, he’s wising up to what he’s dealing with.  “Russia has never given up on anyone to anybody and does not plan to.  An nobody ever gave anyone up to us,” said Vladimir, walking a tightrope acting tough but not recognizing completely Snowden’s cry for help.  What Snowden needs is a psychiatric evaluation, appropriate medication and to face the humane side of the American justice system, where his lawyers will allow him a defense of his outrageous behavior, including proving clear signs of mental illness.  “If he wants to stay here, there is one condition:  He must stop his work aimed at harming our American partners, as strange as that sounds coming from my lips,” said Putin.

             Unwilling to grant Snowden asylum, Russia has assessed Snowden’s situation accurately:  That he’s a big-time loose cannon, needing appropriate help.  Threatening more disclosures, Snowden cut his nose of to spite his face, proving, that he’s not fit for asylum anywhere other than the rabidly anti-American states.  Had Obama not signaled he’s arming Syrian rebels last week, Putin would have gladly turned Snowden over to the U.S. embassy on a silver platter.  Snowden still might find someone to take him seriously but it’s looking more doubtful.  “As for Mr. Snowden, he is not our agent and he is not working with us,” said Putin, dismissing any notion of a Cold War-like prisoner swap.  If the White House makes the very easy case that Snowden’s a disturbed and misguided American youth, Putin might show his humanitarian side and turn him over to the U.S. embassy. 

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.