Edward Snowden: Ex CIA Whistleblower

[mynameisearl11]

"My sole motive is to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them" as Snowden leaked US sentitive info to reporters of The Guardian and the Washington Post. The young 29 year-old life could be ruined for 'doing the right thing'. Is he right or is he wrong? Your take?
I side with security over privacy as long as there are no abuses to the practice.

 

[red]

he is a hero for telling the people what is being done.

whether this surveillance is required or not, the people, should be told.

 

[IM469]

I side with security over privacy as long as there are no abuses to the practice.

I think he was right. How do you know there are not any abuses when there is no accountability ? Snowden is on the mark when he suggests that a dictatorship can easily slip in and use the covert monitoring as means of tracking and arresting opposition. With the Patriot Act - you could throw the opposition in jail or quietly deport them to foreign torture camps - all without a trial.

 

[5hummer]

Maybe I'm naive, but I always assumed that all communications were monitored by the government (since 9/11)?

 

[Carling]

Maybe I'm naive, but I always assumed that all communications were monitored by the government (since 9/11)?

yup thank the Patriot Act...i forgot... which side drafted that bill?

 

[yolosohobby]

Gonna be very interesting to see what happens to this guy and his family now. i hope we dont forget about this story, i really want to know what happens to him.

 

[afterhours]

if he did it for no other reason than telling the truth, he is a hero and probably going to be a martyr.

 

[Big Sleazy]

Maybe I'm naive, but I always assumed that all communications were monitored by the government (since 9/11)?

It's been going on long before 9/11. And I personally completely disagree with it. If some Government body suspects somebody of criminality. Get a warrant. It's easy to see how a program like this could be used to attack a citizen who does not have the same opinion of the existing Government. The targeting of specific groups by the IRS as an example.

Governments have always become tyrannical over time. This is a very slippery slope.

BS

 

[CapitalGuy]

Gonna be very interesting to see what happens to this guy and his family now. i hope we dont forget about this story, i really want to know what happens to him.

I'm sure the CIA planners have already picked the date of his accidental death. Whether this year or on the 11th April 2022, the plan has been written, filed, and passed to the dispatchers for scheduling.

 

[Aardvark154]

Clearly wrong. If he was legitimately concerned about government overreach he could have 1) approached the Inspector General of the NSA 2) Approached a Senator or Member of Congress who serves on one of the appropriate committees with oversight in this area and asked to testify.

Further, it should be pointed out that this entire process not only is authorized by statute, but further each warrant has been reviewed and issued by a U.S. District Court Judge.


One thing I find absolutely amazing about the post 9-11 world is that people such as Edward Snowden who never in a million years would have been granted even a Classified Clearance let alone a Top Secret - Code Word Clearance, now have them!

 

[fuji]

Clearly wrong. If he was legitimately concerned about government overreach he could have 1) approached the Inspector General of the NSA 2) Approached a Senator or Member of Congress who serves on one of the appropriate committees with oversight in this area and asked to testify.

Further, it should be pointed out that this entire process not only is authorized by statute, but further each warrant has been reviewed and issued by a U.S. District Court Judge.

So, the message that we "foreigners" should take away from this, is that it is official US government policy, wholly and completely sanctioned by the US government, to treat US allies this way?

 

[Aardvark154]

So, the message that we "foreigners" should take away from this, is that it is official US government policy, wholly and completely sanctioned by the US government, to treat US allies this way?

My Canadian side is embarrassed that your "but we don't have that capacity" is showing. You don't think the PRC, Russia, the U.K., France, Australia and Germany also play in the grown-ups league?

 

[Aardvark154]

yup thank the Patriot Act...i forgot... which side drafted that bill?

You will note that after President Obama started getting the DPB and learned what was going on out there in the big wide world, a lot of his campaign rhetoric on these points went flying out the window.

 

[Sexy_Dave]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/homefront/

 

[Possum Trot]

My Canadian side is embarrassed that your "but we don't have that capacity" is showing. You don't think the PRC, Russia, the U.K., France, Australia and Germany also play in the grown-ups league?

You sound like a scorned schoolgirl Aardvark not like you usually.

 

[Aardvark154]

You sound like a scorned schoolgirl Aardvark not like you usually.

In Canada or the U.K. this computer savvy High School Dropout would be charged with treason.

However as a reaction to various cases in English Courts from about 1590 on, the U.S. Constitution Article three § 3 provides: "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court. The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted."

So the Espionage Act it is.

 

[Rockslinger]

Ed will make a fortune in the PRC. Chinese dissidents risk their lives to come to the U.S., Americans like Mr. Snowden sell their country's soul so they can get rich.

 

[yolosohobby]

One thing I find absolutely amazing about the post 9-11 world is that people such as Edward Snowden who never in a million years would have been granted even a Classified Clearance let alone a Top Secret - Code Word Clearance, now have them!

Yes this seems quite troubling. Just imagine how many people have the power in the USG and all of the various contractors they are using to completely fuck up one's life ! Its really quite remarkable.

 

[5hummer]

Americans like Mr. Snowden sell their country's soul so they can get rich.

Country's soul? Seriously? LOL :rofl:

 

[yolosohobby]

In Canada or the U.K. this computer savvy High School Dropout would be charged with treason.

However as a reaction to various cases in English Courts from about 1590 on, the U.S. Constitution Article three § 3 provides: "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court. The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted."

So the Espionage Act it is.

This Greenwald journalist is all over the news saying that they released NOTHING that damages national security and gives terrorists a leg-up . And as i watched the video of Snowden, I sort of agree. I mean every terrorist had to assume that the USG was reading their stuff.