[SE Mom]

Good point.

Everyone gave good answers to my question.

I’ve gotten the sense from him that he sees himself as a citizen of the world more than as an American.

Still, I’m grateful for the information he’s provided even while I’m not much enamored of him.

[Paul R.]

This is just a question - I do not mean to be hostile: Does our NSA have any business spying on civilians in other countries (say, Germany) if it is not pretty clear that those persons are not a terrorist (or similar) threat? That is how I interpreted some of what Snowden was saying.

You see, if a U.S. company, say, 3M, wants to spy on, say, BASF, I see that as a lot different than if our NSA is spying on BASF for any reason not involving a clear national security concern. Personally, I think it is a very "American" thing to be concerned about U.S. gov't agencies spying on ANY civilian who is not harming us outside of normal economic competition. (Military research is another matter.)

All that said, Snowden's comments are not completely consistent, as one might expect from someone not a professional pol or debater & not working off a "script". He says he's doing this because he's an American concerned for his country, and that his country is worth dying for (despite it coming after him, now.) One can believe him or not...