Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Leave Edward Snowdon alone ... by gimleteye

With more than 3/4 million Americans in possession of top security clearance by the US government, someone like Edward Snowdon would emerge to disclose information damaging to the national security state, irrespective of countermeasures.

We want reliance on technology, and moreover, that technology should be free of human bias or error. We could, one supposes, train computers to police each other and leave out people. Is that what we want? Do Americans even know what we want, in terms of policing the national security state itself? That is the bigger question and one deserving of public scrutiny.

Never mind Edward Snowdon. The lockdown of the national security state in reaction to its perceived threats is more fearsome by far than whistleblowers, whoever they may be.

I disagree with the political chafing between Democrats and Republicans in Congress and the competition, who is most patriotic in condemning Snowdon's disclosures. One wonders if anyone in the Beltway grasps how the United States throwing official fits of pique against Russia, China, and Ecuador casts dismal shadows over US intentions to project of democracy around the world.

Edward Snowdon is having fifteen minutes of fame. Even without the hysterics, he is a young man who surrendered his own security. Let him go.

7 comments:

RealTruthofMiami said...

I must admit, I disagree with your posts upwards of 90% of the time. I continue visiting because I respect the effort and enjoy reading a different take on the variety of issues posted. Many times, although I disagree, I will take away new facts or even in some cases, change my stance.

Your post on Eric Snowden, has to be without a doubt the most ridiculous post I've read in the last 3 years I've been following the blog. If the man is a whistleblower, then you must consider Robert Hansen and the Rosenbergs in his same class. He may not have stole "secrets" for wealth but he did it for fame, not for transparency! Contrary to some opinions, under the Whistleblower Act there are ways in which you can disclose classified material to a court without facing legal consequence for breach of disclosure. Furthermore, if he did not trust the legal system he could have simply leaked small portions of what he did and it would have exposed what he claims was an injustice. Instead, he is now discussing our method of allegedly hacking foreign networks to foreign governments (multiple at the present), how is this not treason to anyone? Because we live in a digital age and he is not disseminating weapons schematics does not make it any less dangerous. Hacking our energy grid and stopping our potential to either retaliate or prevent it can be catastrophic and cost thousands of lives. Snowden must be arrested and tried, not only stop the hemorrhaging of classified data and tactics but also to show anyone who has delusions of grandeur with a clearance, that they cannot attempt to duplicate it.

Anonymous said...

He's a hero. He gave up a great paying job and his freedom to expose the biggest invasion of privacy in the history of the world. He had to run because he can't trust what the government would do to him, how could he?! Ridiculous that people are focusing on him instead of what he exposed. Pay attention idiot sheep, this ain't another story about Kim Kardashian's baby.

RealTruthofMiami said...

Wow, anon above, the irony in your comment is shocking. You accuse people, also presumably myself, of being sheep for focusing on him instead of the surveillance program he disclosed. Notice I didn't even enter the waters of debating the program. I mentioned his disclosure of our cyber esponiage activities to foreign governments. Sorry, disclosing a date collection program doesn't absolve you for spilling trade craft secrets to the Chinese and the Russians. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone.

Anonymous said...

So why haven't the feds pursued the extradition of Ana Sol Alliegro with the same enthusiasm as the kid? ... we GET it.

miaexile said...

Realtruth..exactly how do you know this to be true: "he is now discussing our method of allegedly hacking foreign networks to foreign governments (multiple at the present), how is this not treason to anyone" ? You don't. You are parroting what you have read or heard in the "news". The idea that our government is collecting and storing private data of it's own citizens for "possible future use" is revolting, sickening and frankly the end of trustworthy government.

Unknown said...


Thank you for your insight. I have always wondered how a loose cannon like Mark Latham was made leader and now it is explained, the old payback.
What small minded people, hate makes of us all.
And as for Latham, here was a man who called George W. the worst president ever ( he was right there) and then knocked people over in the stampede to shake his hand.
Obviously a man of no substance which explains his weathervane approach to policies.
However, as a political commentator I find Mark both refreshing and entertaining. A candid breath of fresh air who, because of his perceived ill-treatment by the ALP, is even-handed in his commentary, unlike the hacks like Kroger, Reith and Costello who just read from the prayer book and spout propoganda, thus dismissing their own credibility of argument.


Anonymous said...

Gimleteye this is somewhat naive of you to render judgement so quickly with very little real information. This is a very complicated situation that we now find ourselves confronted with. There are layers upon layers of issues here. We don't know who Snowden really is, how deep this goes, or what the implications or outcomes will be. The world is a very rough place. Contrary to what some believe, it is not filled with a bunch of soft girlie type men, but cut-throats and evil men in high places who are looking for our weaknesses, and who would destroy us and our way of life with the blink of on eye. Our country is at risk, and you need to stand down and let this play out.