Snowden Surrenders Moral Authority With Dangerous Leaks About American, U.K. Spying Techniques

[Tx4obama]

Snowden Surrenders Moral Authority With Dangerous Leaks About American, U.K. Spying Techniques

Edward Snowden’s bombshell revelations regarding the National Security Agency’s 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 NSA’s programs. Critics leveled both substantive condemnations of Snowden’s 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 America’s surveillance regime abroad jeopardize American national security interests and threaten the United States’ intelligence assets abroad. This behavior does not comport with Snowden’s 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. Snowden’s decision to reveal this information from China has already deeply complicated Sino-American relations, but these latest leaks will inevitably complicate America’s 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 Snowden’s actions.

What began as an arguably constructive process has devolved into a dangerous one. Snowden’s leaks now threaten American diplomatic and intelligence assets. These are irresponsible and criminal actions. Those who continue to support Snowden’s 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

[leveymg]

1. More G20 BS - there is neither surprise nor consequence to this particular revelation. Waste of time

as is this entire line of attack on Snowden's character. This certainly tells the Russians all the 19 others nothing they didn't already know about US snooping at such events.

[kas125]

2. We need the unrec button back. Ugh.

[msongs]

3. the spies are heros because of course, it is perfectly legal. all tied up in little legal bows nt

[bemildred]

4. So Snowden had moral authority? nt