Snowden is in Hong Kong?

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden headed to Hong Kong after releasing a series of sensitive documents to the Washington Post.

Hong Kong is part of China, a country that has blocked access to my blog at times. Not the most transparent place for internet communications.

Now he’s seeking asylum in Iceland, which means he’s hoping that

the Chinese won’t deport him to the USA
Iceland will grant him asylum

Kristín Árnadóttir, Icelandic ambassador to Beijing, told the South China Morning Post that Snowden needs to be in Iceland in order to apply for asylum.
the Chinese will grant him safe passage to Iceland.

So far, he’s checked out of his hotel.

Memeorandum is abuzz,

Barton Gellman / Washington Post:

Code name ‘Verax’: Snowden, in exchanges with Post reporter, made clear he knew risks — He called me BRASSBANNER, a code name in the double-barreled style of the National Security Agency, where he worked in the signals intelligence directorate. — Verax was the name he chose for himself, “truth teller” in Latin.

Discussion: Firedoglake, FishbowlDC, The Fix, The Daily Caller, Daily Mail, The Heritage Foundation, Wired, Althouse, Little Green Footballs and The Huffington Post,more at Mediagazer »

Tom Kludt / Talking Points Memo:

Greenwald Says ‘There’s A Lot More Coming,’ Argues NSA Revelations Don’t Harm Security — The Guardian’s Glenn Greenwald on Monday defended the 29-year-old who served as the source of one of the biggest intelligence leaks in history, arguing that the revelations of the National Security …

Discussion: Hot Air, Guardian and The Daily Banter

The Atlantic Online:

Edward Snowden in Hong Kong — I’m glad we have this information; I am sorry we are getting it from Hong Kong. — Three points: — 1) I believe what I wrote two days ago: that the United States and the world have gained much more, in democratic accountability, than they have lost …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, News Desk,CANNONFIRE, The Dish, Pressing Issues and Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »

New York Times:

Booz Allen Grew Rich on Government Contracts — WASHINGTON — Edward J. Snowden’s employer, Booz Allen Hamilton, has become one of the largest and most profitable corporations in the United States almost exclusively by serving a single client: the government of the United States.

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Politico, The Fix, First Read, Booman Tribune, The Caucus, Business Insider and Telegraph

Daniel Ellsberg / Guardian:

Edward Snowden: saving us from the United Stasi of America — Snowden’s whistleblowing gives us a chance to roll back what is tantamount to an ‘executive coup’ against the US constitution — In my estimation, there has not been in American history a more important leak than Edward Snowden’s release …

Discussion: Yahoo! News, The Daily Beast, Taylor Marsh, The Verge, U.S. News, Pressing Issues, Althouse and News Desk, more at Mediagazer »