Snowden Surrenders Moral Authority With Dangerous Leaks About American, U.K. Spying Techniques
Snowden Surrenders Moral Authority With Dangerous Leaks About American, U.K. Spying Techniques
Edward Snowdens bombshell revelations regarding the National Security Agencys monitoring of the electronic and telephonic communications of average Americans has sown the seeds of a crisis of confidence among broad swaths of the voting public in the United States. As a result, he has been the subject of strong criticisms from supporters of the NSAs programs. Critics leveled both substantive condemnations of Snowdens motives and methods as well as clumsy attacks on his character. None of these critiques, however, were especially compelling that is, until this weekend. New leaks published in The Guardian on Sunday and Monday relating to Americas surveillance regime abroad jeopardize American national security interests and threaten the United States intelligence assets abroad. This behavior does not comport with Snowdens earlier defense of his actions as being those of a concerned American citizen. These are the actions of a disaffected citizen bent on sedition at best. At worst, they are the acts of a counterintelligence agent.
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On Sunday, ....
On Monday, ....
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These are extraordinarily damaging revelations. Snowdens decision to reveal this information from China has already deeply complicated Sino-American relations, but these latest leaks will inevitably complicate Americas relationship with its European allies and Moscow. This is particularly disturbing because they have come at a time when President Barack Obama is attempting to convince Russian leaders to reduce or entirely back off of their support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. American treasure and, should intervention into the Syrian conflict escalate, American lives have been imperiled by Snowdens actions.
What began as an arguably constructive process has devolved into a dangerous one. Snowdens leaks now threaten American diplomatic and intelligence assets. These are irresponsible and criminal actions. Those who continue to support Snowdens behavior can no longer rely on the transparency or good government arguments. This is a criminal conspiracy bordering on treason. Whatever moral authority the NSA leaker once enjoyed is now gone and his champions should reconsider their support.
The full article including the 'middle' here:
http://www.mediaite.com/online/snowden-surrenders-moral-authority-with-dangerous-leaks-about-american-u-k-spying-techniques/
A Good Read