[Hal :-)]

Originally Posted by rubicon

The framers made someone being called/labeled a traitor very difficult to prove. As I recall the actions had to place America in harms way and give aid and comfort to the enemy and some other requirements.

What is clear to me is that Snowden breach the trust of his company, broke his confidentiality agreement, brought attention to NSA's programs in such a manner that our enemies domestic and foreign and including those politicians who have and will take cheap and unsubstantiated shots at America.

What is clear is that far too many contractors are being relied upon and that far too many people civilian and federal have security ratings without being properly vetted and well above their stations and education

The tragedy here and with so many other previous leaks is that the admonition of "loose lips sink ships has been lost on subsequent generations following the greatest generation.

Scary stuff

I think Snowden has been careful not to put any individuals in jeopardy. In fact, I don't think he's put the nation at risk yet, except to ensure his personal freedom with specific allegations.

I've read there are 850,000 contractors with comparable access. At this point, I trust Snowden, but wonder about the other talking heads.

I keep thinking Snowden has everything to lose and nothing to gain. Versus the overwhelming power of the US government. I don't question his sincerity. Technology moves so fast, this may be the last chance we have to retain "for the people, by the people, of the people".

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by JB in TV

I've said this before and I will say it again right now...almost every day and in almost article in the press discussing something about the government, it says the information came from someone who "needs to remain anonymous because that high ranking official isn't authorized to discuss this issue" ...How is this any different than what Snowden is doing? And these supposed high ranking officials are exempt from prosecution? Yet they want to prosecute Snowden? Something is very wrong here.

You're darn right something is very wrong here! And in all likelihood we'll never know the truth....

Originally Posted by Hal :-)

I think Snowden has been careful not to put any individuals in jeopardy. In fact, I don't think he's put the nation at risk yet, except to ensure his personal freedom with specific allegations....

I keep thinking Snowden has everything to lose and nothing to gain. Versus the overwhelming power of the US government. I don't question his sincerity. Technology moves so fast, this may be the last chance we have to retain "for the people, by the people, of the people".

Almost like he's willing to sacrifice his own life for what he perceives as the need for honesty. Sad, the directions that the country has taken in the last several decades....

Originally Posted by buggyone

.... It is really amazing how many people think (1) that NSA is actually listening to their phone calls and (2) that this is something put into place by the Obama administration.

It has been going on since at least 2001. Your individual calls are not being monitored!

If anyone, whatever his or her reasons, does not accept this as truth (see my bold emphasis in the quote), there is a bridge in Brooklyn I would like to sell that individual....

[Hal :-)]

The NSA Details.

The Immigration reform Bill proposes National ID Card to pull it all together. Chilling subtitle - "Your Papers Please".

[senior citizen]

..........

[Patty55]

I think that throughout history many people that we now view as patriots were in their own time perceived as traitors.

Time will tell.

[jane032657]

Run Snowden Run. My favorite news story. If I were in another country where he could be safe, I would give him free room and board. The saying "big brother is watching you" has been around for decades. Snowden just makes it all that much more real.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by Patty55

I think that throughout history many people that we now view as patriots were in their own time perceived as traitors.

Time will tell.

I'm in complete agreement with the first statement (above, in bold), not quite with the second statement (above, underscored). As I wrote earlier, I suspect we will never know the truth; there's too much at stake....

[Golfingnut]

Traitor!!!!!

[Happydaz]

Anyone who runs to Russia, China, and Ecuador has nothing to do with defending freedom. He does not have the best interest of the USA in mind as he runs into the arms of our geopolitical enemies. Our president needs to use his power as an international leader to make those countries who harbor this criminal pay a price for snubbing our requests to turn him over. In my view he is a traitor.

[JC and John]

He has no integrity and no fidelity. He is a criminal. Let him run. He will never be free.

[manaboutown]

When he sought out the totalitarian states of China and Russia to take him in his turncoat allegiance became clear to me. Let's hope he does not get away with being a traitor as did Hanoi Jane!

[rubicon]

In my first post I gave Snowden the benefit of the doubt

However, the latest on Snowden is that sometime before he went public he had been downloading raw data onto his computer. This raw data applied to China and Russia and can be very damaging to national security. Is there any doubt why China and Russia are interested in protecting Snowden

I find it interesting (really disgusting) that Snowden aligns withJulian Assange a sexual offender and head of Wikileak.

Snowden is not just a trader in information he is a traitor

Snowden needs to be hunted down because he is placing our service men and women in some 156 countries in harms way

[buggyone]

Originally Posted by Patty55
I think that throughout history many people that we now view as patriots were in their own time perceived as traitors.
___________

It all depends on whose side you are on. George Washington, Patrick Henry, and John Hancock were traitors to the English and patriots to the USA. Benedict Arnold is still called a patriot to the English.

As I said earlier, though, Snowden is more properly called a criminal. He has broken laws.

Also, he has not endangered lives like Manning did.

Remember, also, this practice of collecting electronic data has been going on since at least 2001. Your individual calls are not being monitored by the government.

[JP]

Patriot