How can you charge Snowden with espionage when the NSA was committing a crime too?
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Easy. NSA began collecting phone data back in the 50s (along with every electronic emission world wide in whatever way possible), was public knowledge published in several books, and spoken about in numerous lectures. That the public at large was ignorant of NSA’s mission and collection is on them.
Then what did Eddy Snowjob actually do that warrants treason charges? It was a Snowjob because, while the press should have been aware of the facts, they chose to highlight an aspect that the public could latch onto and help cripple NSA and national security. This was practice for what the media later did to DJT.
What most people do not understand is that Eddy did not act alone. He had Chinese handlers managing him all along the way - which is why he fled to China first. He is not a hero, but cold calculating traitor.
What the Press decided to skip over was the theft of NSA’s Crown Jewels, so to speak. Eddy took everything he had access to as a trusted Administrator: Methods and Means as well as personnel files. Methods: how intel is collected - physical and human. Means: what platforms are used and their capabilities. Personnel files: The names of people in various sections doing a certain sort of work about which other governments would kill to know - literally.
Eddy basically destroyed millions and likely billions of dollars worth of collections (and likely much that was priceless). All of this had to be rebuilt, if possible, with expenditure of more millions or billions. The personnel could not be rebuilt since they were eliminated by various foreign actors aka dead. He is not a hero, but cold calculating traitor.
After Eddy turned over all the data to his Chinese friends they no longer had any use for him and sent him packing. But the Russians interceded and took him in for copies of what he stole as the price he had to pay. Along the way, the data found its way to North Korea, Iran, AQ, and ISIS. He is not a hero, but cold calculating traitor with blood on his hands and, who deserves to be shot on sight. Not Pardoned! Shot!
Get back to me when Hillary, Comey, Brennan go to jail too.
Excellent summary !
Contrast Snowden’s actions with Dr Terry Lakin. Lakin saw something his conscience said was wrong. He followed that conscience made his decision. Defended his decision in military court bravely took the consequences. (Note not in any way defending the courts decision. Also not saying anything about the rightness or wrongness of Lakin’s initial decision.) Snowden claimed his action were due to his conscience didn’t test it court. He took the PRC Express to Hong Kong, then the FSB Special to Moscow. He paid his freight.
Who is the most honorable ?