Snowden Said Leakers Should Be "Shot" in 2009

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has come a long way since 2009, when he explained he had nothing but contempt for those who leaked classified information to news sources.

Snowden used the online handle "TheTrueHOOHA" to speak out in a chat in 2009 after a New York Times article detailed secret negotiations between the U.S. and Israel in regard to Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program.

Are they TRYING to start a war? Jesus Christ, Snowden wrote, according to chat logsuncovered by Ars Technica, a technology news website. They're like WikiLeaks.

When a user shot back and said the New York Times was just reporting the information, Snowden got heated. "They're reporting classified s***," he began. "You don't put that s*** in the NEWSPAPER."

Snowden then questioned who the anonymous sources were giving the New York Times classified information, and said the leakers "should be shot in the balls."

Snowden was being stationed in Geneva, Switzerland, by the Central Intelligence Agency at the time of the chat. According to Ars Technica, helast logged into the chat server in May 2009.