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Hong Kong (CNN) -- The man behind of one of the biggest leaks in the history of U.S. intelligence is a former technical assistant for the CIA who is now holed up in a Hong Kong hotel, in danger of running out of money and hoping to find asylum somewhere in the world.
Edward Snowden, 29, was identified over the weekend by American and British newspapers as the person who exposed details of a top-secret American program that collects vast streams of phone and Internet data.
So, is he a hero, or traitor?
He's a hero. There is a key difference between this guy's actions and those of Manning: This guy actually had access to the data he was releasing, he went through it and made informed decisions with regards what to make public. Manning only knew the contents of a fraction of what he released, and even that he only knew because he was told, all the files he "leaked" were encrypted and he had no idea what the actual contents of most of them were when he handed them over to be decrypted by people he really didn't know all that well. As such, he can't claim to have been making an informed decision.
To me, that marks a massive difference between the two.
It's not about being more or less selective, it's about Snowden making an informed decision based on data he could actually see, compared to Manning who didn't even know exactly what he was leaking or who he was leaking it to. One is an informed decision, the other is arguably a lot more reckless (though just to be clear, I'm not in a position to be condemning either of them).So what if Snowden was more selective? They both made public top secret information, and, as employees of the state, had an oath of confidentiality, no?
He wants to portray himself as engaging in Civil Disobedience. Let him. Jail.
There are consequences for such things, and that he's running away from them speaks volumes. He's 29 and running out of money in a foreign land? Cry me a river.He wants to portray himself as engaging in Civil Disobedience. Let him. Jail.
He wants to portray himself as engaging in Civil Disobedience. Let him. Jail.
That's a different subject entirely.So you view the data mining and surveillance by our government as reasonable and legitimate behavior?
He's a hero. There is a key difference between this guy's actions and those of Manning: This guy actually had access to the data he was releasing, he went through it and made informed decisions with regards what to make public. Manning only knew the contents of a fraction of what he released, and even that he only knew because he was told, all the files he "leaked" were encrypted and he had no idea what the actual contents of most of them were when he handed them over to be decrypted by people he really didn't know all that well. As such, he can't claim to have been making an informed decision.
To me, that marks a massive difference between the two.
So you view the data mining and surveillance by our government as reasonable and legitimate behavior?
How could he go to jail if he didn't do anything illegal ? All he did was report on illegal activity.
Another difference is that one was in the military while the other was a civilian.
Incorrect. The divulgance of classified information is indeed illegal.
The information released by Snowden proves absolutely that the head of the NSA, Clapper, lied to a Congressional Committee of Wyden and Udall. Lied. That would be perjury. Clapper said no surveillance occurred in the USA and if it did, it definitely could not be quantified or identified. PRISM gives an exact count and has been doing so since 2007 and before. Billions and billions are revealed on the colorful intercept charts of worldwide snooping. Why aren't the citizens demanding the arrest of Clapper for perjury? He's the criminal.NSA leaker holed up in Hong Kong hotel, running low on cash - CNN.com <-- clicky
So, is he a hero, or traitor?
Would you put him in jail? Or throw him a parade?
That is not what I said. But he broke the law. I happen to believe that the Rule of Law is important.
That is not what I said. But he broke the law. I happen to believe that the Rule of Law is important.
I'm grateful to him, but I'm not sure whether to call him a hero yet. I don't know enough to judge his character yet.NSA leaker holed up in Hong Kong hotel, running low on cash - CNN.com <-- clicky
So, is he a hero, or traitor?
Would you put him in jail? Or throw him a parade?
Not if the classified act was itself illegal.
So if Obama ordered the Delta Force to assassinate 30 elementary school kids in Pakistan becasue they sent him hate mail, and then decided to classify it, and then someone leaked it, would that person be breaking the law?
Sorry, he didn't break the law because the classified material that he revealed was directly related to illegal activity. That's being a rat, not a criminal.
Incorrect - the divulgance of classified material is and remains a criminal act, regardless of what you think of the legality of the collection platform or activity divulged. The one has precisely zero bearing on the legality of the other.
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