With all the banter going around concerning this ‘rouge element’, we need to take an honest look at what information has been revealed and more important - what makes this leaked information so damaging, and why Snowden is so dangerous?
When the 29 year-old decided to go public with his identity, this writer was at first disappointed thinking that in the media spin, the story would become about him, rather than the message he was transmitting. This is exactly what took place in the government/media complex. By week’s end, it was made clear that the NSA has no intention of suspending their ‘secret’ program of blatant violations of the Fourth Amendment, or walking it back in any way. This comes with the blessing of their government masters.
“They are not really spying on us. They are keeping us safe. It’s just metadata”, we are told. And even though this is just the latest example of a government agency abusing its authority, “There is no cause for alarm”. And to prove this, our government will leak every dirty detail about Snowden, and pledges to search the ends of the earth to find him, and bring him to justice - for telling Americans that we are being spied upon, we’re not safe, it’s not just metadata, and there is really a cause for alarm.
It was by week’s end that I began to truly understand the reason for Snowden going public. It’s not just about keeping himself alive, it’s also not about his 15 minutes of fame, or validating the data by putting his name on it. In fact, I dare to say that Snowden also knows the real reason the government is so furious with him, and it has almost nothing to do with what he has stated about the NSA.
Edward Snowden’s major crime was having the courage to publically walk away from it all – on principle.
Think about it. Many people either knew or suspected what Snowden said long before he said it. Books have been published; movies produced on the topic. This data-mining has been going on throughout government agencies for years. From red-light cameras to un-authorized wire-tapping, to internet snooping and everything in between, America has become a surveillance state and if you will – a police state. Tens of thousands of Americans work for these agencies. Thousands more have been victims of this government’s heavy hand due in part to the information it held against the victim.
Snowden had a great life. An intelligent man on top in his tradecraft, a future with the women he loved and a home in Hawaii (a.k.a Paradise). He was just like – well, many of the new hires of government today, and in fact many of us. But how many of us would just trade it all in – our homes, jobs, and families to stand for something with virtually no personal reward, and in fact, could cost you your own life?
If I was among the guardians of this (Un)American Empire, my primary concern (read: fear)these days would be how many more Edward Snowden’s are out there. I suspect agencies in the U.S. government are at this time scrambling trying to figure out who among the millions of employees and contractors may have a bit of ‘principle’ left in them. Government employees taking un-authorized trips out of the country are probably going under extra scrutiny. Employees found reading the Constitution or documents of the founding fathers may find their security clearances revoked, and/or other punitive measures taken against them.
The Government’s stance against Snowden is not for general public consumption, as it is not helping its image at all. It is in fact for empire’s workforce – a message to the next would-be Snowden out there.
If you as an American feels your government has far overstepped its boundaries and is out of control, know that you are not alone. As a matter of fact, you’re probably in the vast majority. In the last two weeks, I have overheard discussions from across the political spectrum. Americans know Washington has become the problem, and we have lost respect and are fearful of this institution. I suspect that fear is magnified on many within government itself.
Those Americans that are truly on the side of the Constitution and the Freedom and Liberty guaranteed within, should seek out and welcome those on the ‘inside’ with principle seeking to speak out against the apparatus that seeks to consume everyone. Love him or hate him, Snowden has led by example.
He may be this generation’s Paul Revere, with a little bit of Sam Adams mixed in. But I suspect as the government’s abuse grows, and the citizens are forced to respond, the name Edward Snowden may become legend as in Ayn Rand’s timeless novel ‘Atlas Shrugged’, where instead of the phrase “Who is John Galt?”, we hear (any say) “Who is Edward Snowden?”.
I would put Obama in jail, not Ed.
Snowden is pretty obviously in the pay of Red China. It’s shocking how many people have deluded themselves about this.
Some few years ago, the government had tapped into and was listening in on the cell phone conversations of the various Muslim groups that were wishing ill upon America. This was a good and reliable source, and we had quite a bit of actionable intelligence available. Then Senator Pat Leahy got up, in the well of the Senate, and blurted out, that we were listening in on these conversations, which dried up this rich vein of data. Overnight, the jihadists, realizing the error of their ways, went to using throwaway phones and coding their verbal messages much more carefully.
Small wonder, then, that when Dick Cheney and Senator Leahy met in a casual encounter, the senator, with the mistaken idea that cordiality was in order, was greatly shocked when the Vice President told the senator to perform a biologically impossible act of perversion upon himself.
Senator Leahy is a blabbermouth, but because he pronounced his revelations from the floor of the Senate, he is immune to the consequences. There is a section in the Constitution which permits this. (Article I, Section 6).
Edward Snowden has no such protection from the consequences of his actions.
BRAVO...!
he might be a prophet.
‘rouge element’ bump! ;)
Snowden, will never appear in a US court....simply because NSA, really don’t want confirmation, (official) that they are conducting such activities...at the moment it is speculation....all major powers of the world, conduct such intercepts....
Second - His large house in HI had not been lived in for three months pror to taking the job and absconding to China. This argues prior planning.
Third - He must have drawn large amounts of cash out of his pay to afford the flight and living expenses in HK.
Fourth - Why China? A country not known for freedom of expression, nor longevity of spies.
Fifth - There is always some beautiful gal involved in these sorts of cases - usually sent in by handlers.
Sixth - Method, Means, and Motive.
Candidates: Iran, NK, Russia, China, Obama, Self.
The first five have the means and method. The first four have the motive. Certainly Obama could have some motive, but given the scandals, this would not be the time.
The last - He may have had the means, but both motive and method are are on very shaky grounds.
Since he did not go near Iran, NK, or Russia, they are out.
This leaves China which has method, means, and motive to get this guy the job, the gal, the house, the cash to make his flight to HK where (coincidentally) the PLA has its hacking HQ.
Anyone - jimhohn, who thinks he is some sort of whistleblower cum hero is whistling Dixie in Harlem on a dark night in a forelorn alleyway.
“He is currently known as the man who leaked some of the dark details of the U.S. Government’s National Security Agency or NSA”
Really?
Seems to me the news is implying he did what you say but, I can’t think of what he did that is of significance.
I think the panic over Snowden has done a very good job of chasing the IRS story (which is probably far worse) from the papers. I’m convinced Obastard caused the Snowden story on purpose.
“scandal fratricide.”
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It seems the people are being played.
We have been spied on for a long time according to what I am finding (See below links from 1975). Of course some didn’t know because they were too young, the rest were “dumbed down”.
The “leak” by Snowden was planted, just like the leak for IRS scandal by Lois Lerner.
This is the next step in communism takeover – destabilization.
Ideological subversion
Demoralization
Destabilization
Crisis
Normalization
We’ve been hearing how much the government DOESN’T work and how it is BROKEN and must be FIXED. There wasn’t this sentiment before ….. It seems our country is so broken (destabilize)
April 22, 2012 from Washington’s Blog (see sourced links in the article)
Influential Senator Warned in ’75: “NSA’s Capability Could Be Turned Around On The American People”
Michael Savage Caller: Americans Spied on for Decades Under Echelon Program (since HW Bush)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZAvQzyu0DY
Read more at
http://www.wnd.com/2013/06/echelon-contractor-feds-spying-on-citizens-for-decades/#PaUDf8SCOsKUJSqo.99
He's under the wing of communist China and communist Russia has offered him asylum. Very telling.
If you start labeling these types of people as heroes what will stop any Gov't employee from divulging classified info so they can be famous too?
Snowden is likely a OWS type and too many are being fooled.
