Edward Snowden: the whistleblower behind the NSA surveillance revelations...

[notdrunk]

Dick Cheney: Snowden's A 'TRAITOR,' Defends NSA Surveillance Programs:

Snowden is starting to look like a traitor.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013...dev-g20-summit

American spies based in the UK intercepted the top-secret communications of the then Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, during his visit to Britain for the G20 summit in London, leaked documents reveal.

The details of the intercept were set out in a briefing prepared by the National Security Agency (NSA), America's biggest surveillance and eavesdropping organisation, and shared with high-ranking officials from Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

The document, leaked by the NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and seen by the Guardian, shows the agency believed it might have discovered "a change in the way Russian leadership signals have been normally transmitted".

Now, I officially support criminal charges against this guy.

[Ben]

Snowden is starting to look like a traitor.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013...dev-g20-summit



Now, I officially support criminal charges against this guy.

There's no question he broke the law. Not many people are arguing that. I mean it's obvious.
A crucial point about society is: the populace have been inculcated to think that politicians are above the law.
Problem is: our so-called lawmakers are the lawbreakers. (Anyway, who makes the laws and why do laws look the way they do?) Think: Cheney, Rumsfeld, Bush Jr, Bush Sr., Reagan, Carter... and keep goin'.
But, again, we've been taught to believe that politicians are above the law.
The law doesn't apply equally. Look at O.J. Simpson. And how he managed to buy his way out of a first degree murder conviction. And why didn't the state of California seek the death penalty with respect to Simpson? Well, he's rich. Or: was rich!
Look at the banksters... and how they broke the law and were never punished.
Look at all of Wall Street.
Look at all the corporate criminals.
So, yes, Snowden did break the law. Just like Bradley Manning did break the law. Both should be punished.
But to what extent? I mean, I don't think Manning should get the death penalty. They can still pursue death penalty charges against him.
Remember that he exposed state crimes. But, again, we've been taught to believe that state actors are simply above the law. Anyway, the likes of Cheney and Bush and others will never see the inside of a courtroom. Not a chance.
Criminal charges are for the powerless: Manning, Snowden and others....

[Ben]

[Ben]

[maxpower]

....

[Ben]

A new poll shows the 65% of Americans want public congressional hearings on the NSA's surveillance programs, but instead of representing the American people, the house republicans instead waste their time on symbolic repeals of Obama care and restrictive anti-choice abortion legislation.

[Ben]

Edward Snowden Being Charged With Espionage:

[Ben]

Putin: 'Nyet' to US request to turn over Snowden:

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/nsa-l...rs-stalled-now

[Ben]

Liberal icon Frank Church on the NSA

Almost 40 years ago, the Idaho Senator warned of the dangers of allowing the NSA to turn inward:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...h-liberal-icon

[Ben]

Obama's Attack on Whistleblowers Criminalizes News Gathering: