US spy chief Clapper defends Prism and phone surveillance

[Peter Lemkin]

Julian Assange and Wikileaks revealed they had been in 'indirect communication' with Snowden.


Mr Snowden's case already echoes that of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange who took refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London last summer after Swedish authorities issued an international warrant for his arrest amid allegations of sexual assault. He has been hiding there ever since.

Iceland's government of newly-elected conservative Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, may not be so generous this time around. While still untested, it is widely seen as closer to Washington than past administrations and less keen to foster the island country's cyber-haven image.

But Icelandic lawmaker Birgitta Jónsdóttir and International Modern Media Institute executive director Smari McCarthy released a statement on Sunday vowing to do all they could to help protect Mr Snowden, if he was able to make it to the shores of the tiny Nordic country.
'Whereas IMMI is based in Iceland, and has worked on protections of privacy, furtherance of government transparency, and the protection of whistleblowers, we feel it is our duty to offer to assist and advise Mr. Snowden to the greatest of our ability,' their statement reads, according to Forbes.com.

The pair added that they were already working on detailing the legal protocols required to apply for asylum and said they were seeking a meeting with the newly appointed interior minister Mrs Kristjánsdóttir as soon as possible to discuss whether an application for asylum, if made, can be processed as a priority.
In the Guardian interview, Mr Snowden suggested Iceland was his number one option.

He said his 'predisposition is to seek asylum in a country with shared values, The nation that most encompasses this is Iceland. They stood up for people over internet freedom.'

Empty and on the market: Edward Snowden's former home in Waipahu, Hawaii, which he fled last month for Hong Kong so he could leak details about the U.S. government's secret surveillance programs


ets: A neighbour said today that the garage at the home had boxes stacked floor to ceiling when Snowden was planning his escape

McCarthy told The Guardian that they have been following the story 'with morbid fascination' and Mr Snowden's mention of Iceland was their 'cue to take action.'
'We are working on the basis that if he were to arrive in Iceland we would have a plan in place and ready to go,' he said.

Mr Snowden needs to make his way to Icelandic soil or show up at one of its embassies in order to claim asylum. But if he managed that, he would have the Icelandic people's support, McCarthy said.
The government would have to weigh up enraging its major trading partner in its decision to claim or reject asylum to Mr Snowden.
'However, it would be rather embarrassing for the States if it cut ties with this small nation because it had complied with its human rights duties,' McCarthy said.
He would be free to live in Iceland while immigration authorities decide his case, which could take more than a year, according to Helga Vala Helgadottir, a lawyer specializing in asylum cases.
Iceland has an extradition treaty with the United States, but it is unclear whether it would cover any crimes that Snowden might be charged with.

Meanwhile, Ecuador is another possible ally. The country's embassy in London is currently harboring WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
As the U.S. government hunts Mr Snowden, the American people are rallying for the outlaw, who is now on the run.

A petition has been registered with the White House demanding a pardon for the 'national hero' and has already garnered more than 27,000 signatures.

The petition, which calls for 'a full, free, and absolute pardon for any crimes he has committed or may have committed related to blowing the whistle on secret NSA surveillance programs' is aiming for 100,000 signatures by July, 9, 2013.
Another fan has set up a fundraising website for Mr Snowden whose bank accounts have been frozen. The Crowdtilt.com campaign is aiming to raise $15,000 for the whistleblower, in a bid to 'set a precedent by rewarding this type of extremely courageous behavior.' It currently stands at more than $7,300 with nine days to go.

Other supporters are holding placards for Mr Snowden today in New York's Union Square stating: 'Snowden is a hero. Stop the surveillance.'

Mr Snowden had been working at the NSA for the past four years as an employee of defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton after working for the CIA as a technical assistant, specializing in computer security. His role allowed him access to classified material.
Since he revealed himself, Booz Allen, where Director of National Intelligence James Clapper was previously an executive, branded Mr Snowden's alleged actions 'shocking' and promised to conduct a full investigation into the matter.
In a statement, the firm said: 'Edward Snowden, 29, has been an employee of our firm for less than three months, assigned to a team in Hawaii.
'News reports that this individual has claimed to have leaked classified information are shocking, and if accurate, this action represents a grave violation of the code of conduct and core values of our firm. We will work closely with our clients and authorities in their investigation of this matter.'
Shares of Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. fell on Monday, on the back of the revelation.
Shares fell 61 cents, or 3.4 per cent, to $17.39 in midday trading, a slight recovery from a 5 per cent drop earlier in the session.

About 23 per cent of the $6 billion company's revenue, or $1.3 billion, came from U.S. intelligence agencies last year. The company has said in SEC filings that security breaches could materially hurt results.

Mr Snowden said he had raised his concerns with his superiors, but had been ignored.
He said: 'I have no intention of hiding who I am because I know I have done nothing wrong. I understand that I will be made to suffer for my actions but 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.
'My sole motive is to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them.
'What they're doing (poses) an existential threat to democracy,' he added.

WHY HONG KONG? EXTRADITION TREATY GIVES SNOWDEN CHANCE OF AVOIDING BEING SENT HOME

Edward Snowden's decision to flee to Hong Kong is a gamble, but its free speech laws mean he does have a slim chance of avoiding being swept back to America.
Hong Kong signed an extradition treaty with the United States in 1997, just before Britain handed it back to China.
In it both agreed to send fugitives back and forth in the majority of cases, but there were also political exemptions negotiated at the time.
Hong Kong has the 'right of refusal when surrender implicates the "defense, foreign affairs or essential public interest or policy'' of the People's Republic of China.'
China itself has no extradition treaty with America at all.
Hong Kong officials also have the right to say no to extradition if they believe that the attempt is 'politically motivated'. This means that they will protect free speech if a person is being arrested just for their political opinions.
The United States may have already approached Interpol or its consulate in Hong Kong to start proceedings. They will use the Espionage Act to gain warrants for his arrest.
Hong Kong's authorities can hold Mr Snowden for 60 days, following a U.S. request that includes probable cause, while Washington prepares a formal extradition request.