Even if he had no choice, he certainly didn't have to leak everything without the time to go over it. As I pointed out elsewhere in this thread, he's leaked stuff that were completely legal, i.e. the US spying on other countries.
If you are rotting in a room in an embassy on made-up false accusations, everything you do to the people who put you there is a fair game. Timing the release of information is the least worrisome thing he could have done.
At the same time, this is exactly what we should expect of every American put in his position. And others were in his position before him, so you kind of have to shake your head that this wasn't disclosed sooner.
What I find admirable is the way he's gone about disclosing these documents in such a responsible and controlled manner.
That's a great point. Whether that's his intent or not, it seems to be how it's progressing. An alternative explanation: he's obviously been following the news about the whole thing very closely, and so he knows what questions the media and/or general public are asking. He can just release whichever documents answer those questions as the questions arise, and thus avoid leaking any more info than he feels is necessary (since that seems to be a goal of his).
People are reading too much into my comment, then. I didn't imply anything, actually - I made a comparison and provided no detail that could lead a conclusion, other than the idea that he wants to be visible, and questioning that decision.
Your first reason doesn't make sense because all the other leaks by secret leakers have caused uproar and changes, so a person behind them isn't necessary, clearly.
Your second reason doesn't make sense because as long as nobody finds out who you are, they can't kill you. Other leaks in the past have been done with anonymity. And honestly, they'll rendition him regardless of the public outcry because he's broken the law.
You're assuming that the goal is to expose something - that is, you're starting your argument with the idea that he's got some political agenda to achieve.
But he's stated that his goal is to weaken the powerful by making it so that they can't trust anyone to keep their secrets. In that context, any uncovering of a leader's secrets is work toward his goal.
You can argue that the costs of what he's doing exceed the benefits, but I think your claim doesn't support the argument you're trying to apply it to.
He handed all his confidential and sensitive documents to reporters before fleeing so, in a real sense, he is "out of things to leak." He seems to be transitioning to a role of explaining to the mainstream press, in short words they can understand, what is going on.
This should be a known fact acknowledged by everyone by now, from his leaks, but I don't think it is, and it's good to have him still being able to speak up about these things, instead of being locked up in solitary confinement without being able to respond to the governments' continuous lies.
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