Dougan, a former Marine and police officer, fled his home in Florida in 2016 to evade criminal charges related to a massive doxxing campaign he was accused of launching against public officials and was given asylum by the Russian government. Most recently, Dougan has posed as a journalist in Ukraine’s Donbas region, testifying at Russian public hearings and making frequent appearances on Russian state TV.

    • snooggums@midwest.social
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      5 months ago

      Not even close. A useful idiot is tricked into doing something they did not intend to do.

      This guy is all in with Russia.

      • Dr. Bob@lemmy.ca
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        5 months ago

        Incorrect. A useful idiot is someone who doesn’t understand the impact/outcome of their actions. A foreign agent doesn’t need to turn/trick/recruit an actor because the idiot is already doing the subversive work for nothing. A small amount of money or encouragement goes a long way with idiots. An example …does anyone else remember the “Hillary is 44” movement after she lost the nomination to Obama?

  • mhague@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Maybe he and Snowden can brainstorm ideas on how best to pretend to have strong moral convictions backing your actions while simultaneously being a mouthpiece for Putin. It can’t be easy to pretend to be a person willing to risk it all, get to Russia, and suddenly fall in line.

    • snooggums@midwest.social
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      5 months ago

      Snowden’s actions were based on a positive ethical foundation and is accused of putting people in danger, although I don’t remember those accusations being substantiated.

      This guy fled because he was actively and intentionally harming people for malicious purposes. He continues to be malicious.

      They are not comparable.

      • mhague@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Pick one:

        a) Snowden haphazardly leaked our documents because he can’t abide mass surveillance. He had to do it and risk everything because of his moral convictions.

        b) Snowden repeats Putin’s propaganda because his safety is more important than doing the right thing. He can abide things like the invasion of Ukraine or interference in American politics in favor of practical concerns.

        (You know it’s possible for Snowden to have done something good while also being a shithead, right? I’m saying these shitheads can keep each other company.)

        • snooggums@midwest.social
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          5 months ago

          They are both true, and if you look at a calendar you will see that there was significant amount of time and changing circumstances between 1 and 2.

          • mhague@lemmy.world
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            5 months ago

            So just to be clear, nobody is denying Snowden is a Kremlin mouthpiece. It’s just a faux pas to imply Snowden is not a virtuous person? Or is it mean to group Snowden, a Russian stooge, with other Russian stooges, because of his past?

            • snooggums@midwest.social
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              5 months ago

              It is unreasonable to dismiss his ethically based release of information because of more recent events. He ended up with Russia because other countries were not willing to grant asylum, and even though he is a stooge now because of that outcome it does not mean he was always a shithead.

    • The Uncanny Observer@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      5 months ago

      Snowden fled to Russia because he’s wanted for espionage in the United States. He doesn’t have many choices on places he can go. It’s either Russia, or China.

  • Dreizehn@kbin.social
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    5 months ago

    The MAGATs should follow Dougan to shithole Muscoviteville. If the POS returns to the USA, the USMC should arrest him and throw his ass into Ft. Leavenworth.