“He would have been killed or indefinitely imprisoned the moment anyone of importance learned his intentions.”
Not a fact. Speculation only.
“He had to go public right away or government abuses would have remained secret.”
Not if he went to Congress or US media.
“His only option to stay alive and hold his narrative was to go to a hostile nation where we are unlikely to send a team to get him.”
Not his only option.
“The only other possible option”
Another ‘only’ option?
“would have been to dump the data online for everyone and surrender publicly to the blackboots.”
The honorable course of action if congressional route failed.
“But then the US government would have gagged him and controlled the narrative once they got him.”
Speculation. Prosecution likely and govt spinning just as likely, but media has a life of its own that cannot be controlled.
“Not a fact. Speculation only.”
It’s speculation until you actually do it. I’d say that assumption is reasonable considering how many people subverting the corrupt government have mysteriously died in recent years. I guarantee you there are even more on the inside that we never heard of.
“Not if he went to Congress or US media.”
Ah yes, those bastions of integrity would have taken care of everything and we’d be in a free country by now.
“Another ‘only’ option?”
That option would mean being prosecuted and losing control of the story. He had only ONE option to not be killed AND stay in control of the story- move to an advanced country not friendly to the USA - that only leaves Russia or China. He would have been killed or prosecuted/silenced in any other country. Period.
“Speculation. Prosecution likely and govt spinning just as likely, but media has a life of its own that cannot be controlled.”
If you are free you can still express your view worldwide over the viral internet and nobody has control of that (yet). Snowden would not be doing youtube interviews or posting articles if he was under control of the USA. The government/media would control his story and evidence 100%. If he didn’t end up dead, his story definitely would have.
That's not honorable. It's stupid. I suppose the colonists were dishonorable because they shot red coats from behind trees and rocks instead of lining up in a row in front of the British troops wearing brightly contrasting clothing.