TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME: REVISITING THE REALITY OF EDWARD SNOWDEN'S LEAKED INFORMATION
President Trump's nominee for the Director of National Intelligence Director, Tulsi Gabbard, refused to call out Edward Snowden as a traitor to his country in her contentious Senate confirmation hearing.
Responding to questions like, "Was he a traitor at the time when he took America's secrets, released them in public, and then ran to China and became a Russian citizen?" Gabbard offered up her routine reply, "The fact is he also, even as he broke the law, released information that exposed egregious illegal and unconstitutional programs happening within our government that led to serious reforms that Congress undertook." It is a classic bureaucratic non-answer.
Two things can be true at the same time.
Snowden was a traitor to the United States for revealing highly classified information about covert surveillance activities that aided and abetted our enemies without pursuing standard disclosure protocols that preserve the secrecy of classified information and invoke congressionally mandated protections for whistleblowers. He also released significant proof of unconstitutional and unlawful domestic spying by the United States government.
Public perception.
When it comes to Edward Snowden's release of classified information, many believe that his circumstances boil down to a simple either/or choice. Snowden was either a traitor who endangered national security or a heroic whistleblower who exposed government overreach and abuses. But the reality is far more nuanced. Two things can be true simultaneously: Snowden's leak sparked a conversation about privacy and government surveillance and raised legitimate concerns about the security implications of disclosing classified materials in an abjectly unlawful manner harmful to his country.
The Case for Snowden as a Whistleblower
One of the strongest arguments in favor of Snowden is the revelation that the U.S. government, through the National Security Agency (NSA), had been conducting mass surveillance on its own citizens. Snowden's leaks exposed programs like PRISM, which allowed the government to collect data from major tech companies, and the NSA's widespread monitoring of phone and internet communications. These actions violated the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. Snowden's decision to disclose this information ignited concerns about government overreach, privacy, and the balance between national security and civil liberties.
From this perspective, Snowden acted as a pseudo-whistleblower, revealing information that the public had a right to know. His actions forced the U.S. government to re-evaluate its surveillance programs, leading to reforms like the USA FREEDOM Act, which imposed limitations on specific aspects of NSA surveillance. Many people view Snowden's disclosures as an act of courage, revealing the dark side of post-9/11 security measures that, in their view, violated fundamental freedoms.
The Security Risks of Leaking Classified Information
However, it's more important to acknowledge the potential security risks Snowden's leaks created. Classified information is typically kept secret for a reason: it is crucial for the protection of national security and the safety of intelligence operations. By releasing documents containing sensitive details about surveillance programs, especially to our enemies, Snowden compromised ongoing operations, put the lives of intelligence officers at risk, and exposed vulnerabilities in the U.S. government's ability to protect our country.
Snowden's actions were far beyond reckless, and the harm caused by the leaks outweighed the benefits of his disclosures, which were not limited to information related to U.S. government surveillance on Americans but also included details about foreign intelligence operations, potentially damaging relationships with allied nations, and hindering counterterrorism efforts.
Bottom line…
This is not a matter of First Amendment rights involving the Freedom of the Press to publish classified materials.
There is little doubt in my mind that Snowden is a traitor, considering that he fled to Communist China and then to Russia, where he was granted permanent residency. It is not believable that Snowden did not share classified intelligence and military information with our enemies.
Snowden does not deserve a pardon or any other consideration as a citizen of the United States. Edward Snowden received a Russian passport after swearing an oath of allegiance to the country that has sheltered him from US authorities since 2013.
We are so screwed.
-- Steve
“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words
“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw
“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”
“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius “A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell “Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar “Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS