Norwegian lawmakers nominate Snowden for Nobel Peace Prize

[News_Editor]

OSLO, NORWAY (BNO NEWS) -- Two Norwegian lawmakers on Wednesday disclosed they have jointly nominated American whistle-blower Edward Snowden for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, saying he has made a "critical contribution" to restoring the balance between a country's need for intelligence and people's individual freedoms.

Bård Vegar Solhjell and Snorre Valen, both politicians from Norway's Socialist Left Party, revealed their nomination on Wednesday in an open letter. And while they indicated they may not agree with all of Snowden's disclosures, they argued that the former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor has made important contributions to a more stable and peaceful world.

"Edward Snowden has revealed the nature and technological prowess of modern surveillance. The level of sophistication and depth of surveillance that citizens all over the world are subject to has stunned us, and stirred debate all over the world," the lawmakers said in their letter. "By doing this, he has contributed critical knowledge about how modern surveillance and intelligence directed towards states and citizens is carried out."

Snowden, whose release of top-secret NSA documents have revealed details about the extent of the U.S. government's surveillance on phone and internet communications, has been charged by U.S. federal prosecutors with espionage and felony theft of government property. He remains in Russia where he was granted political asylum after fleeing Hong Kong.

"The new information technologies of the past few decades bring new possibilities for democratization, transparency and freedom of expression. But it also introduces new tools of oppression, surveillance, and espionage," the lawmakers said in Wednesday's letter. "Massive surveillance of ordinary people's communication, and targeted surveillance against allied leaders, is now possible on a scale that we wouldn't be able to imagine two or three decades ago."

Solhjell and Valen added: "A peaceful world order depends on trust between nations and trust between people. Peace brokering would be impossible without a basic level of trust. International agreements on non-proliferation and disarmament would be impossible without a basic level of trust. And peaceful resolutions to emerging security threats would be impossible without a basic level of trust."

Nonetheless, the lawmakers admitted that Snowden's actions may have damaged the security interests of several nations. "We do not necessarily condone or support all of his disclosures. We are, however, convinced that the public debate and changes in policy that have followed in the wake of Snowden's whistleblowing has contributed to a more stable and peaceful world order," the said.

NSA spokeswoman Vanee Vines did not immediately return requests for comment on Wednesday's nomination.

Snowden had no chance to win last year's Nobel Peace Prize because the deadline for nominations was in February, well before Snowden fled the United States to begin his disclosures of top-secret NSA documents, which the Pentagon claims has prompted terrorists to change their methods. And while the official list of candidates is kept secret for 50 years, those who are eligible to nominate candidates are free to announce their choices.

(Copyright 2014 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: [email protected].)

[Steely Dan]

There is a large degree of irony here, as Norway's socialist left party tolerates little if any deviation from it's own set menu of social attitudes from it's own citizens, unless of course they arrived recently from elsewhere.

[pattayaorganic]

There is a large degree of irony here, as Norway's socialist left party tolerates little if any deviation from it's own set menu of social attitudes from it's own citizens, unless of course they arrived recently from elsewhere.

Another brainwashed foot soldier in the "liberal-conservative" dichotomy. Nominating Snowden for the Peace Prize has nothing to do with liberal/conservative politics and has to do with the redefining of what the limits that governments should have placed on them with since new technology has given them unprecedented power to invade our privacy not as citizens of any one nation but as citizens in the global community.

Liberal or Conservative, you either believe in privacy as a basic human right or you believe in tyranny. The exact same kind of tyranny that as an American your forefathers fought against.

[Credo]

The opposite of privacy is tyranny?

[luangtom]

Well, I find it ironic that Snowden is nominated for the Nobel Prize when Obama got one in his first year in office. Interesting. This is the head of the very government Snowden is to have blown the whistle on.

Edited January 30, 2014 by luangtom

[falangadang]

The opposite of privacy is tyranny?

That's not what he said or meant ace.

A second reading may help it to register more clearly!

[cup-O-coffee]

I nominate all the signers of the US Constitution. I am certain Ed's name would be there were he alive back then. Mine too.

[HerbalEd]

Liberal or Conservative, you either believe in privacy as a basic human right or you believe in tyranny. The exact same kind of tyranny that as an American your forefathers fought against.

The reason the world is now in such a mess is because of this kind of polar-opposites logic: It's either black or white ... you're either for me or against me ... you're either conservative or liberal. However, life doesn't work that way. While there's definitely fully black and fully white, there's also many colors in between.

Edited January 30, 2014 by HerbalEd

[Steely Dan]

There is a large degree of irony here, as Norway's socialist left party tolerates little if any deviation from it's own set menu of social attitudes from it's own citizens, unless of course they arrived recently from elsewhere.

Another brainwashed foot soldier in the "liberal-conservative" dichotomy. Nominating Snowden for the Peace Prize has nothing to do with liberal/conservative politics and has to do with the redefining of what the limits that governments should have placed on them with since new technology has given them unprecedented power to invade our privacy not as citizens of any one nation but as citizens in the global community.

Liberal or Conservative, you either believe in privacy as a basic human right or you believe in tyranny. The exact same kind of tyranny that as an American your forefathers fought against.

Snowden's disclosures resulted in terrorists adjusting their behavior making it more difficult to follow them, that said a lot of U.S and probably other nations surveillance measures definitely over stepped the mark, IMHO the jury is still out as to his legacy.

As you see fit to mention the forefathers I wonder what they would make of the IRS specifically targeting conservatives, whilst refusing to profile their own protected groups. If it were a conservative administration invading privacy I would be equally concerned, however it is a liberal U.S administration that is doing so and on sectarian lines, which makes it indeed ironic when another nation's liberals applaud Snowden.

[Jingthing]

I consider him a traitor. Simples.

[midas]

I consider him a traitor. Simples.

I think it's brilliant.

He is far more deserving of it than Obama ever was

[Crushdepth]

I consider him a traitor. Simples.

Not to me. I want the US government OUT of both my work and personal stuff. What they have done is criminal. Snowden deserves a medal.

[Jingthing]

I consider him a traitor. Simples.

Not to me. I want the US government OUT of both my work and personal stuff. What they have done is criminal. Snowden deserves a medal.

Killing the baby with the bathwater. Espionage is a necessity. He has given important secrets to enemies of his own country, tools that will be used to kill his fellow countrymen. If that isn't a traitor, what's a traitor? If you want to see America weakened, fine, he's your man.

Edited January 30, 2014 by Jingthing

[StasD]

I hope Snowden will be nominated. at least he is more deserving for Nobel Prize than Obama

[Jingthing]

I hope Snowden will be nominated. at least he is more deserving for Nobel Prize than Obama

It isn't about Obama. Of course he didn't deserve it. But at least Obama is not a traitor.

The irony of him hanging out in Putin's Russia is just too rich.

How fast would Putin dispose of a Russian traitor?

Edited January 30, 2014 by Jingthing

[Scott]

Post deleted. This topic is about Snowden's nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

[Jingthing]

The Nobel brand has been seriously tarnished anyway. This isn't helping.

[lineofentry]

Cut through the bs, who are these uncontrolled and arrogant agencies really working for? Big corporations, not us. Hope he wins it.

[StasD]

I hope Snowden will be nominated. at least he is more deserving for Nobel Prize than Obama

It isn't about Obama. Of course he didn't deserve it. But at least Obama is not a traitor.

The irony of him hanging out in Putin's Russia is just too rich.

How fast would Putin dispose of a Russian traitor?

please stick to the Snowden and Nobel prize. If you want to discuss Putin and Russia pleas open new theme

[Scott]

It might be a little hard to separate Snowden, Putin and Russia from the topic.

[Crushdepth]

I consider him a traitor. Simples.

Not to me. I want the US government OUT of both my work and personal stuff. What they have done is criminal. Snowden deserves a medal.

Killing the baby with the bathwater. Espionage is a necessity. He has given important secrets to enemies of his own country, tools that will be used to kill his fellow countrymen. If that isn't a traitor, what's a traitor? If you want to see America weakened, fine, he's your man.

It's not my country, and I do happen to think the US government could use being taken down a peg or two (George Bush!!!), it seems likely they use the info they steal to knock off people as well.

[Thai at Heart]

It is however only through the grace of God that this didn't cause severe problems for the security personnel.

Not worthy of a peace prize but if obama can have one. What the heck....

[Jingthing]

The issues Snowden has raised could have been done so more diplomatically by a non-traitor. He could have secretly met with the a prominent reporter. The letting go of important U.S. security secrets to hostile countries is the traitor part.

[Mrjlh]

There is a legal way for him to have been a "Whistle Blower" without any retribution. He didn't do that! In fact, he still has material that could be damaging to many countries but the NSA isn't sure what that is, at least they're not talking. He had a sworn duty to protect the information he had access to and he violated that trust. His actions would apply to any person of any nation who has possession of classified documents and violate that trust.

You can make him a hero by ranting all about your privacy rights and all that crap but you are not even talking about the same thing. The USA has more privacy right protections than any other country, hands down. He did expose certain procedures used that border on violating those rights. Good for him for revealing that but the problem is it is the one item he revealed that's getting all the attention. It's the other secret's he holds that pose a more dangerous problem. He is a traitor not only to the USA but to the World.

The USA isn't the only spy group in the world. You better take a long hard look at your own countries and if you can't admit it you are in serious denial.

[CIHUAHUA]

Who is next - Rodman?

[Scott]

An inflammatory post has been removed.

[ppmacready]

Who is next - Rodman?

I heard Putin or Suthep.

Who would of thought one day we would be able to say ''In my day getting the Nobel prize meant something!''

[Naam]

I consider him a traitor. Simples.

one man's traitor is another man's hero

analog

one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.

[robert888d]

_{HE IS A TRAITOR TO HIS COUNTRY AND SHOULD BE TRIED FOR TREASON ! PEACE PRIZE ..RUBBISH HE HAS STRIRRED UP A HORNETS NEST !}

[khunken]

Yes, spying on one's enemies is a world-wide occupation but spying on your friends and citizens of other countries deserves exposure.

The argument that he has damaged US interests by helping terrorists is unproven - just like the claims that waterboarding and rendition has prevented terrorism.

Because of the mistreatment of Manning and the threats against Julian Assange, he wisely decided not to release his information in any place where extradition is a possibility.

He has done the world - including those US citizens who stand for personal freedom - a favour. Nobel Prize? The peace prize is now virtually meaningless.