--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Edward Snowden may not be a Chinese mole…" description: "\"Edward Snowden may not be a Chinese mole, but he might as well be. He's just handed Beijing a major score, while the NSA struggles to pick up the piece..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/arthur-l-herman-34686_beijing_edward-snowden-may-not-be-a-chinese-mole_2437994.jpg" --- # Edward Snowden may not be a Chinese mole, but he might as… ![“Edward Snowden may not be a Chinese mole, but he might as well be. He's just handed Beijing a major score, while the NSA struggles to pick up the pieces - and the rest of us pay the price in terms of future national security.” quote by Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/arthur-l-herman-34686_beijing_edward-snowden-may-not-be-a-chinese-mole_2437994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/arthur-l-herman-34686_beijing_edward-snowden-may-not-be-a-chinese-mole_2437994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/arthur-l-herman-34686_beijing_edward-snowden-may-not-be-a-chinese-mole_2437994.jpg) > “Edward Snowden may not be a Chinese mole, but he might as well be. He's just handed Beijing a major score, while the NSA struggles to pick up the pieces - and the rest of us pay the price in terms of future national security.” [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Snowden’s leaks have unintentionally benefited China, creating security gaps that the U.S. must now address, affecting national safety for everyone. **In simple terms:** Snowden’s actions helped China, hurting U.S. security. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden geopolitical impacts of whistleblowing. Themes security politics whistleblowing Mood concerned analytical Type political critical When to use this quote - government policy - cybersecurity - foreign relations - public awareness Key Concepts geopolitics information warfare Questions to Reflect On - How can intelligence agencies balance transparency and security? - What safeguards prevent foreign exploitation of leaks? A Different Perspective The U.S. can mitigate damage through stronger intelligence reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [National security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-security/) [Pay the price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-the-price/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggles/) ## Related quotes > [Some say Edward Snowden is a hero and a patriot. Others say he's a fool and a traitor. The evidence is mounting that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-l-herman/some-say-edward-snowden-is-a-hero-and-a-patriot-others-say-he-s-a/) [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) > [ I wasn't terribly familiar. I had read some of the headlines but didn't quite understand difference between WikiLeaks...\[Edward\] Snowden. And then watching the documentary,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-eastwood/i-wasn-t-terribly-familiar-i-had-read-some-of-the-headlines-but-didn/) [Scott Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-eastwood/) > [ The situation they \[journalists and Edward Snowden\] were in was incredibly heightened. The stakes were high. There was a lot of pressure, a lot… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/the-situation-they-journalists-and-edward-snowden-were-in-was/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [ It's not exactly an interview that's going on \[in documentary\]. I guess we do ask Edward Snowden some questions and we're recording him answering… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-leo/it-s-not-exactly-an-interview-that-s-going-on-in-documentary-i-guess/) [Melissa Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-leo/) > [In my estimation, there has not been in American history a more important leak than Edward Snowden's release of NSA material, and that definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ellsberg/in-my-estimation-there-has-not-been-in-american-history-a-more/) [Daniel Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ellsberg/) > [I was really not familiar at all with Edward Snowden. I like to get that right out of the way and really learned most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-leo/i-was-really-not-familiar-at-all-with-edward-snowden-i-like-to-get/) [Melissa Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-leo/) > [The government now requisitions the publics' telephone records and sifts through its emails. It labels whistle-blowers such as Edward Snowden as traitors, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/the-government-now-requisitions-the-publics-telephone-records-and/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [ \[Edward Snowden and his team\] they're great characters. They're fascinating people. They were in an extraordinary situation. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/edward-snowden-and-his-team-they-re-great-characters-they-re/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [There's a lot of important issues being brought to the world about America's role in proliferating weapons, about the lack of responsibility of anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-lawson/there-s-a-lot-of-important-issues-being-brought-to-the-world-about/) [Guy Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-lawson/) > [Edward Snowden has inspired changes and awareness, which is very important in this day and age, and sometimes egos need to be set aside,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/birgitta-jonsdottir/edward-snowden-has-inspired-changes-and-awareness-which-is-very/) [Birgitta Jonsdottir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/birgitta-jonsdottir/) > [Patriots don't go to Russia. They don't seek asylum in Cuba. They don't seek asylum in Venezuela. They fight their cause here. Edward Snowden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/patriots-don-t-go-to-russia-they-don-t-seek-asylum-in-cuba-they-don-t/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [It certainly woke me up to how vulnerable we all are. I think I was much more cavalier about it before I started working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/it-certainly-woke-me-up-to-how-vulnerable-we-all-are-i-think-i-was/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [ The \[Edward\] Snowden disclosures created this perception that people's privacy was being put at significant risk. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morell/the-edward-snowden-disclosures-created-this-perception-that-people-s/) [Michael Morell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morell/) > [I am incrementally a pessimist, but I see the international debate that Edward Snowden has engendered, and I think this is exactly where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-savage/i-am-incrementally-a-pessimist-but-i-see-the-international-debate/) [Adam Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-savage/) > [Despite Russia's move to raise interest rates this week, the value of the ruble has continued to crash. Russia's economy is so bad, Edward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/despite-russia-s-move-to-raise-interest-rates-this-week-the-value-of/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) ## More by Arthur L. Herman > [Few Americans realize it, but the United Nations is driving to take control over the Internet. You remember, the folks who want a worldwide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-l-herman/few-americans-realize-it-but-the-united-nations-is-driving-to-take/) [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) > [The most interesting statistic, stunning statistic that came out of my research was that in 1942, as this war production effort is going on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-l-herman/the-most-interesting-statistic-stunning-statistic-that-came-out-of-my/) [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) > [You have to remember that although Gandhi and Churchill only met physically once, their paths crossed again and crossed again all over the globe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-l-herman/you-have-to-remember-that-although-gandhi-and-churchill-only-met/) [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) > [Gandhi wanted to meet with Churchill, his most bitter foe, when he visited London in 1931- but it didn't happen. Churchill wanted to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-l-herman/gandhi-wanted-to-meet-with-churchill-his-most-bitter-foe-when-he/) [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) > [In his final year in office, Clinton decided that his contribution to Middle East peace would lie not in the removal of Saddam Hussein…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-l-herman/in-his-final-year-in-office-clinton-decided-that-his-contribution-to/) [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) > [I guess the most surprising discovery was how long Gandhi remained loyal to the ideal of the British Empire, even in India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-l-herman/i-guess-the-most-surprising-discovery-was-how-long-gandhi-remained/) [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) > [The lesson of the Cuban Missile Crisis is plain: Strength prevents war; weakness invites it. We need a commander-in-chief who understands that - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-l-herman/the-lesson-of-the-cuban-missile-crisis-is-plain-strength-prevents-war/) [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) > [It is a fact that the Left routinely resists, then as now: Americans fought and died in Vietnam for freedom, just as they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-l-herman/it-is-a-fact-that-the-left-routinely-resists-then-as-now-americans/) [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) > [Some say Edward Snowden is a hero and a patriot. Others say he's a fool and a traitor. The evidence is mounting that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-l-herman/some-say-edward-snowden-is-a-hero-and-a-patriot-others-say-he-s-a/) [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) > [Most people today don't feel that Barack Obama is on our side. We sense he's incapable of doing what Roosevelt did, of loving his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-l-herman/most-people-today-don-t-feel-that-barack-obama-is-on-our-side-we/) [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) > [Whatever one wants to say about the conduct of the Iraq War, going to war to remove Saddam Hussein in 2003 was a necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-l-herman/whatever-one-wants-to-say-about-the-conduct-of-the-iraq-war-going-to/) [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) > [Millions of Americans cannot tell you who lived at Mount Vernon or who wrote the Declaration of Independence - let alone the Emancipation Proclamation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-l-herman/millions-of-americans-cannot-tell-you-who-lived-at-mount-vernon-or/) [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) > [Letting the greens dictate your energy choices, whether it's halting the XL Pipeline or fracking in New York, isn't just bad economics. It can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-l-herman/letting-the-greens-dictate-your-energy-choices-whether-it-s-halting/) [Arthur L. Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) [Explore all 14 Arthur L. Herman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-l-herman/) ## More Beijing quotes > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I see the Beijing National Stadium as an architectural project. I accepted Herzog and De Meuron's invitation to collaborate on the design, and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-see-the-beijing-national-stadium-as-an-architectural-project-i/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Often GOP political strategy seems like the human wave theory of the Chinese military translated to politics. Where Beijing uses masses of soldiers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/often-gop-political-strategy-seems-like-the-human-wave-theory-of-the/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [Air pollution is my biggest concern right now. Maybe because I live in Beijing, and in this city we have such severe challenges due…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-bingbing/air-pollution-is-my-biggest-concern-right-now-maybe-because-i-live-in/) [Li Bingbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-bingbing/) > [Coming into London having the experience of Beijing is really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/coming-into-london-having-the-experience-of-beijing-is-really-good/) [Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/) > [Well it did not make excessive sense to say that 20 million people are the recognized government of a billion people that have their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/well-it-did-not-make-excessive-sense-to-say-that-20-million-people/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I was born and raised in Vancouver. I moved to Beijing in 2010 just before the Olympics. Being an Asian Canadian actor, the amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osric-chau/i-was-born-and-raised-in-vancouver-i-moved-to-beijing-in-2010-just/) [Osric Chau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osric-chau/) > [If you're in the movies and you haven't been to Beijing, you're kind of missing where things are really happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/if-you-re-in-the-movies-and-you-haven-t-been-to-beijing-you-re-kind/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [By 2040, the Sahara will be moving into Europe and Berlin will be as hot as Baghdad. Atlanta will end up a kudzu jungle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovelock/by-2040-the-sahara-will-be-moving-into-europe-and-berlin-will-be-as/) [James Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovelock/) > [My Beijing jersey means more to me than any of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephon-marbury/my-beijing-jersey-means-more-to-me-than-any-of-them/) [Stephon Marbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephon-marbury/) > [Team GB's success at the Beijing Olympics can, in part, be said to have been made in Manchester. For example, all the cycling medal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/team-gb-s-success-at-the-beijing-olympics-can-in-part-be-said-to-have/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [Beijing would indeed consider vetoing any American effort to sanction Iran at the Security Council.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-zhaoxing/beijing-would-indeed-consider-vetoing-any-american-effort-to-sanction/) [Li Zhaoxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-zhaoxing/) > [Space is about 100 kilometers away. That’s far away—I wouldn’t want to climb a ladder to get there—but it isn’t that far away. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-munroe/space-is-about-100-kilometers-away-that-s-far-away-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Randall Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-munroe/) > [I think the biggest thing was that I was putting pressure on myself leading up to Beijing. 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