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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCarter: Snowden's leaks 'good for Americans to know'
Carter: Snowden's leaks 'good for Americans to know'
Susan Page
NEW YORK -- Former president Jimmy Carter defended the disclosures by fugitive NSA contractor Edward Snowden on Monday, saying revelations that U.S. intelligence agencies were collecting meta-data of Americans' phone calls and e-mails have been "probably constructive in the long run."
<...>
Does he view Snowden, now granted asylum in Russia, as a hero or a traitor?
"There's no doubt that he broke the law and that he would be susceptible, in my opinion, to prosecution if he came back here under the law," he said. "But I think it's good for Americans to know the kinds of things that have been revealed by him and others -- and that is that since 9/11 we've gone too far in intrusion on the privacy that Americans ought to enjoy as a right of citizenship."
Carter cautioned that he didn't have information about whether some of the disclosures "may have hurt our security or individuals that work in security," adding, "If I knew that, then I may feel differently." And he said Snowden shouldn't be immune from prosecution for his actions.
"I think it's inevitable that he should be prosecuted and I think he would be prosecuted" if he returned to the United States, the former president said. "But I don't think he ought to be executed as a traitor or any kind of extreme punishment like that."
- more -
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/24/usa-today-capital-download-jimmy-carter-edward-snowden-probably-constructive/6822425/
Susan Page
NEW YORK -- Former president Jimmy Carter defended the disclosures by fugitive NSA contractor Edward Snowden on Monday, saying revelations that U.S. intelligence agencies were collecting meta-data of Americans' phone calls and e-mails have been "probably constructive in the long run."
<...>
Does he view Snowden, now granted asylum in Russia, as a hero or a traitor?
"There's no doubt that he broke the law and that he would be susceptible, in my opinion, to prosecution if he came back here under the law," he said. "But I think it's good for Americans to know the kinds of things that have been revealed by him and others -- and that is that since 9/11 we've gone too far in intrusion on the privacy that Americans ought to enjoy as a right of citizenship."
Carter cautioned that he didn't have information about whether some of the disclosures "may have hurt our security or individuals that work in security," adding, "If I knew that, then I may feel differently." And he said Snowden shouldn't be immune from prosecution for his actions.
"I think it's inevitable that he should be prosecuted and I think he would be prosecuted" if he returned to the United States, the former president said. "But I don't think he ought to be executed as a traitor or any kind of extreme punishment like that."
- more -
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/24/usa-today-capital-download-jimmy-carter-edward-snowden-probably-constructive/6822425/
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Carter: Snowden's leaks 'good for Americans to know' (Original Post)
ProSense
Mar 2014
OP
hm...President Peace, Love, and Understanding thinks Snowden should be prosecuted
crimeariver1225
Mar 2014
#7
ForgoTheConsequence
(4,868 posts)1. Sorry Mr. President....
Even though you were once commander in chief, our resident authoritarians know what's best for us, therefor under the bus you go. I hope you've never left an ex girlfriend because they will use that against you. You're also lucky that you're not transgendered after what they said about Chelsea Manning.
City Lights
(25,171 posts)4. Yup. We're gonna need a bigger bus. nt
War Horse
(931 posts)10. I just don't get your point
Carter said that what Snowden has revealed what Americans need to know. No one with a functioning brain could disagree with that, IMO.
That the Patriot Act was an un-American overreach should come as a surprise to no-one. The Obama admin has stayed on this road, for the most part, but has allowed for a bit more transparency.
Carter seems to think that Snowden might have sparked a very important debate, but has gone way too far. That's my read on it, anyway. If that is his analysis, Carter and I are in agreement.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)2. Kick! n/t
Bragi
(7,650 posts)3. Where's the DU pro-secrecy brigade?
Why aren't they all over this, denouncing Jimmy? I'm disappointed.
reformist2
(9,841 posts)6. Good question. They know when to hold their fire. ;)
crimeariver1225
(19 posts)8. I don't believe such a brigade exists.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)11. Where is everyone? n/t
malaise
(269,024 posts)5. I love Jimmy Carter
That is all
crimeariver1225
(19 posts)7. hm...President Peace, Love, and Understanding thinks Snowden should be prosecuted
ProSense
(116,464 posts)9. Another for
crickets.