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Agree this goes against the Snowden trend. Probably not him.

But since they're claiming to hack the Chinese, Russians, Saudis, and Pakistanis, this very well could be an "authorized leak" to counter the Snowden leaks. Like, the NSA actually does go after their enemies (as well as their friends). Very few Americans would oppose to them hacking Chinese Army computers.

Probably from the NSA itself, trying to do damage control through carefully controlled leaks that put them in a good light.

"New leak says NSA spies only on the bad guys".

The Al Jazeera English article that sparked this thread was summarizing yesterday's New York Times article, which mentioned Edward Snowden's name five times.

Either that or your concept of his MO is wrong.