The Fable of Edward Snowden

Wall Street Journal ^ | Dec. 30, 2016 | Edward Jay Epstein

[pepsionice]

Had he sat and identified five serious allegations, and walked out the door with forty classified messages or documents to prove the five allegations, then we would likely refer to him in some positive way.

But instead, he downloaded virtually everything possible, just saying that he or a trusted agent would review everything...protecting what needs to be protected...and later provide allegations and documents at their leisure.

I do agree...he is extremely naive and all this talk of him being bright or competent...he was merely a immature character with no ability to grasp his actions or consequences.

[zeestephen]

Re: “The way they [NSA] are able to bully businesses into giving them access to info would make the Stasi or old KGB blush.”

That statement is not serious.

Every “business” in East Germany and the USSR was already owned and managed by the Communist Party!

[sargon]

The NSA is operating totally outside of the Constitution, and has been for years. Period. End of story.

All else is deflection...

[mazda77]

Lets see, WSJ. Hmmmmmm

Why in the world should we believe in anything coming from any opinion piece in the Murdoch owned media. Was not MeAgain Kelly enough for you? Most likely a story fronted by the likes of McCain, Graham or some other credible source.

As for any opinions of mine, all is on hold until a group of real adults take the reigns.

[trebb]

Not gonna subscribe to the WSJ to read it - they may as well be a subsidiary of the NYT or WaaaaPo these days.

[niteowl77]

Homeland security is simply the beginning of what will evolve into the equivalent of the SS or the KGB. Its just an infant now. But in several years, and with each tragedy, DHS will gradually develop into our worst nightmare.

The SS assumed authority over all police and and fire units, while we have FEMA and DHS essentially doing the same thing. Centralized control, baby!

Mr. niteowl77

[Robert DeLong]

Absolutely agree. See post #5 for an alternative method of reading the article that bypasses that subscription BS.

[trebb]

Thanks

[Robert DeLong]

It usually works. Did for me actually. Hope it does for you. Never have understood why that works.

[trebb]

I just tried it and it worked for me too - not too sure if I’ll use it a lot as I tend to not bother trying to delve into WSJ stories too much. I suppose they sometimes put out decent stuff but I get enough ‘free access’ to crap with the NYT and WaaaaPo.

[jospehm20]

My point is that our NSA collects more info on US citizens than the Stasi or KGB could have ever hoped to have on their subjects. I understand the Stasi and KGB were working in communist dictatorships that controlled every aspect of life in their regimes and routinely spied on their people. I simply do not think that our gubmint should be engaged in wholesale spying on US citizens. To make it worse, the NSA cannot be trusted to secure any data they do acquire. They are apparently not capable of vetting their own contractors properly as the Snowden and Martin affairs have shown.

[Robert DeLong]

I'm the same way. I do not know if this article is worth reading, however, if what is being said is true (and that is a big if to me) then Snaowden is a traitor and Wikileaks is not something that I will hold in high esteem. Now don't get em wrong, I enjoyed and appreciated the material they provided regarding the DNC and Podesta. I will reamin skeptical of this article, since it's timing is just too convenient given the claims of Russian hacking to the benefit of Donald trump which is just ludicrous with absolutely no proof of the claim being offered even. But if Snowden has given the Russians some of the secrets mentioned, then Snowden may have done a service to Americans, but did a bigger disservice as well.

I merely put it out there for others to see.

[xp38]

Here’s an idea. The US trades Soros for Snowden.

[Robert DeLong]

I like your thinking. 8>)

[trebb]

I merely put it out there for others to see.

Zero problem with that - being informed is our best weapon.

[Rome2000]

Twice

[poinq]

“So, do you think Trump will be for or against this trend?”

I do not think Trump will make the DHS any better. And he may make it worse. Presidents are so scared of terrorists that they give into any requests of DHS. And The Roberts Court is not as strong a defender of the constitution as I would like.

A lazy DHS will ask the courts and the President to bend the constitution, to break laws or look the other way. A clever DHS understands the importance of the constitution and will achieve its goals while working within the laws.

[cgbg]

I saw Epstein on CSPAN last night.

He lied repeatedly about one very simple fact.

He stated the NSA does not spy on Americans.

That is a lie.

So, it is hard to accept anything else he says on this subject.

[piasa]

Because the alternative is buying into what this douchebag and his partners at The Guardian, The Washington Post, and forgery-prone CBS News a/k/a Radio Havana are pushing.