Today Glenn Greenwald is crowing about a letter to Edward Snowden from a former GOP Senator, Gordon Humphrey, that calls Snowden a “Courageous Whistle Blower.”

To my knowledge, Mr.Snowden has disclosed only the existence of a program and not details that would place any person in harm’s way. I regard him as a courageous whistle-blower.

I object to the monumentally disproportionate campaign being waged by the U.S. Government against Edward Snowden, while no effort is being made to identify, remove from office and bring to justice those officials who have abused power, seriously and repeatedly violating the Constitution of the United States and the rights of millions of unsuspecting citizens.

Americans concerned about the growing arrogance of our government and its increasingly menacing nature should be working to help Mr. Snowden find asylum. Former Members of Congress, especially, should step forward and speak out.

Regards,
Gordon Humphrey

Greenwald also posts Snowden’s reply, with the usual self-aggrandizing and complaints that the media are focusing on his “personality.”

And then, there’s this claim:

My intention, which I outlined when this began, is to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them. I remain committed to that. Though reporters and officials may never believe it, I have not provided any information that would harm our people - agent or not - and I have no intention to do so.

You may rest easy knowing I cannot be coerced into revealing that information, even under torture.

“Even under torture?” Wow, who knew that 29-year old IT geeks were such tough guys?

Snowden’s claim that he hasn’t released information that can harm “our people” is directly contradicted by Germany’s Der Spiegel, in a recent article on documents provided by Snowden’s accomplices: Der Spiegel: Snowden Released Information That Could ‘Endanger the Lives of NSA Workers’.

SPIEGEL has decided not to publish details it has seen about secret operations that could endanger the lives of NSA workers.

Greenwald also claimed that Snowden has a “dead man switch” that will be triggered if anything happens to him, releasing information that will cause massive harm to the United States.

It’s clear that at this point, Snowden is simply saying anything that will get him into a better position. Vladimir Putin made it an explicit condition of seeking asylum in Russia that Snowden stop releasing information that can harm the US, so Snowden’s now saying he never did so or intended to do so. Russia, here we come.

Meanwhile, who exactly is former Sen. Gordon Humphrey, and what are his political views?

Humphrey is about as far to the right as a politician can be in America, and that’s pretty far indeed. He’s a vicious foe of President Obama who endorsed Rick Perry in the last election, an extreme anti-choice activist who wants to defund Planned Parenthood, and was a supporter of the absolutely insane Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry in his congressional campaign.

Nice friends Greenwald and Snowden have.