What NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Said Four Years Ago About Whistleblowers Might Surprise You

After 29-year-old Edward Snowden leaked information about classified NSA programs, detailing the spy agency's collection of communications data, earlier this month and has been on the run, finding out as much about the whistleblower has been the mission of many.

In this June 21, 2013 file photo, a banner supporting Edward Snowden, a former CIA employee who leaked top-secret documents about sweeping U.S. surveillance programs, is displayed at Central, Hong Kong's business district. The Hong Kong government says Snowden wanted by the U.S. for revealing two highly classified surveillance programs has left for a "third country." The South China Morning Post reported Sunday, June 23, 2013 that Snowden was on a plane for Moscow, but that Russia was not his final destination. Snowden has talked of seeking asylum in Iceland. (Photo: AP/Kin Cheung, File)

But some of what Ars Technica dredged up might surprise you, in light of his recent actions. On Ars Technica's public Internet Relay Chat server in 2009 under the username TheTrueHOOHA, Ars reports Snowden writing about his discontent over Obama's appointment of "a f***ing politician to run the CIA" and saying whistleblowers should be "shot in the balls," referencing leaks revealed in a New York Times article.

Here's the full exchange of that chat (editor's note: profanity redacted):

< TheTrueHOOHA> HOLY SH**

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/washington/11iran.html?_r=1&hp

< TheTrueHOOHA> WTF NYTIMES

< TheTrueHOOHA> Are they TRYING to start a war?

Jesus christ

they're like wikileaks

< User19> they're just reporting, dude.

< TheTrueHOOHA> They're reporting classified sh**

< User19> shrugs

< TheTrueHOOHA> about an unpopular country surrounded by enemies already engaged in a war

and about our interactions with said country regarding planning sovereignity violations of another country

you don't put that sh** in the NEWSPAPER

< User19> meh

< TheTrueHOOHA> moreover, who the f**k are the anonymous sources telling them this?

< TheTrueHOOHA> those people should be shot in the balls.

Among other revealing things about Snowden in the forum's chats, which took place while he lived in Switzerland, it reaffirms his approval of the "dreamy" then Sen. Ron Paul, which was already been known shortly after he was identified as the whistleblower based on campaign contributions.

Snowden also alluded to believing the U.S. government spied on citizens at the time.

He wrote (editor's note: profanity redacted): "Too bad the [Australian] government is luddite technophobes... USA F*** YEAH... WE LOVE THAT TECHNOLOGY SH**. HELPS US SPY ON OUR CITIZENS BETTER."

Read the whole of what Ars Technica has found of TheTrueHOOHA's -- a.k.a. Edward Snowden -- chats but be warned of strong profanity throughout.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Snowden has been in the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport since flying in from Hong Kong - meaning that he has not officially entered the country. If true, it's effectively a life of airport limbo for Snowden, whose American passport has been revoked by U.S. authorities.

Putin insisted Tuesday that Snowden has stayed in the transit zone without passing Russian immigration and is free to travel wherever he likes. Snowden, who arrived Sunday on a flight from Hong Kong, registered for a Havana-bound flight Monday en route to Venezuela, but didn't board the plane. His ultimate destination was believed to be asylum in Ecuador. Dozens of Russian and foreign journalists boarded the Havana flight only to photograph Snowden's empty seat 17A during the 12-hour journey.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

(H/T: Business Insider)

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