[Taz's Master]

Originally Posted by fintstone

LOL...So will Obama...and in many places, Osama...LOL

A fair trial would ensure that he would be convicted of theft and espionage (open and shut). The only question would be Treason.

Whether or not you cheer this info coming out or are outraged...the simple truth of the matter is that people entrusted with classified (especially Top Secret) cannot determine on their own, what should be released. In most cases, they would not know enough to make that determination since we tend to break it up into small pieces based on need to know. A good example is Manning. I am sure that he didn't intend for people to die when he released what he did...but that certainly was the result.

The sheer arrogance of Snowden (not even a HS grad) to assume his judgment was so superior to make such a decision is beyond belief.

The answer lies with the definition of Top Secret. "Disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security". The information released was classified as information that needs additional protection above TS. Snowden would likely not know enough to understand the full repercussions of the release of the information.

If we are all to personally determine which national security secrets our conscience dictate we reveal...then you would similarly have no problem with a nuclear weapons guy posting vulnerabilities of our weapons if he didn't believe in MAD?

Who is he, or you or me to make that decision?

There are plenty of ways of whistle-blowing without releasing TS info to the public. Whether you agree or disagree with whatever the govt. is alleged to have done...certainly what this fellow has done is heinous. he didn't just release info regarding the level of NSA surveillance, but stole gigabytes, if not terabytes of the nations top secrets and released them to uncleared foreigners.

There are plenty of ways to be a whistleblower without coloring outside the lines. Did it myself. It was painful, but the right thing to do.

The Ft Hood shooter was reportedly acting on his conscience as well...

Fint, to me he represents the government that was trusted to protect that information. His actions are the failure of the government, and exemplify why the government cannot and should not be trusted to protect the security of the information it collects.