The Guardian is a liberal news outlet in the UK. They have been in the forefront of the NSA leaks, and now, with the leaker's permission, they have released his name.
Edward Snowden.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/09/edward-snowden-nsa-whistleblower-surveillance
It is too soon for me to make a judgement on Snowden's actions. In the past, I did not support Daniel Ellsberg's revelations in the Pentagon Papers. I didn't feel at the time that it was his right to pass judgment on our involvement in Viet Nam to the point he would release classified information. In retrospect, I guess I should revisit the issue since Vietnam was a tragic period in our history and given the way it turned out, I feel it was a waste of 58,000+ American lives.
Daniel Manning is undergoing trial as we speak for this involvement in the WikiLeaks issue.
Generally, I support the need for our intelligence services to be able to maintain the security of their information and communications. As a DEA agent, I had to respect the security of classified information-especially when I served overseas in Thailand and Italy and was privy to classified information from the CIA, NSA and State Department.
Theoretically, the idea of releasing classified information should not depend on whether the government in power is Republican or Democrat-liberal or conservative. As a conservative, I have been greatly troubled by what I consider the Obama administration's actions and their efforts to prevent public disclosure of what they have done to intrude on our freedoms. If Snowden becomes the modern-day Daniel Ellsberg, what will this say about this administration's legacy when it comes to civil liberties?
At this point, I am going to withhold judgement on Mr Snowden. We have to wait and see how the Obama administration chooses to proceed on him. One thing is for certain: Mr Snowden has given liberals much to ponder about the administration they have supported to this point.
The story of Edward Snowden is just beginning.
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4 comments:
Did u know that ad sorces has posted an ad right after your shorter bio for tha Iman Fund? Something about investing in sharia compliant investments? Ironic, to say the least. Or is this a hoax? If real u might have ad source remove it. Really doesn't belong on your blog, cuz.
That's what they do based on the content of my posts. I can't control it. You might also see ads for dating Muslim chicks. I'd click it but I am prohibited since I get something like a quarter penny for every time someone clicks an ad. Every couple of years, it adds up to a hundred bucks, so I keep em around.
Makes sense. BTW, I'm a democrat but always vote for the candidate, rather than the party, and though I tend to lean towards the left, I'm certainly do not support the far left nor the far right. (Now y'all don't stone (figuratively) this innocent, 62 yr old southern lady). But I am very uncomfortable with the data mining and other issues on spying on American citizens. I'm one of those people they refer to as 'law-abiding citizens' who have nothing to worry about. However I do worry about it.
My privacy is important to me. Ironically, visiting this site and related sites I access from this blog might connect some dots on some idiot's checklist and decide I need to be watched. I have worried about Gary getting on some Muslim hit list for his occasional "blasphoney" (in other words telling the truth) for a long time.
Now, however, I worry about our government looking at this blog and decide Gary needs to be watched, which us BS.
You see, Gary is my cousin and I trust the validity of his facts. On some issues we agreed a long time ago to 'agree to disagree' and avoid discussing those issues. Gary seems to have a handle on the Muslem threat (and no I'm not an islamaphobic) and his information has helped clarify the situation. Should I stop visiting the site of a cousin I love very much and a site I respect just out of fear of government watching me and my other contacts?
He-- no. Gary, I love u and keep up the good work. Hopefully all the nasty data miming and other attacks on our privacy will all be brought to light and freely debated. Only then can we make informed decisions and vote out those who support the murky past.
Maggie,
Thanks for all the luv and yes, you are my cousin and a liberal.
These scandals are forcing both liberals and conservatives to discuss the issue and I think the debate will be healthy for all of us. I will be writing what I hope is a serious discussion of how much govt surveillance is enough to keep us safe without violating our privacy. If it is necessary to throw all of our communications together to weed out the threats for the purpose of saving lives, I am willing to give the govt the benefit of the doubt. But if it is designed to identify those who are against the administration, that is something else again. I think it can be a very healthy debate, and I see liberals and conservatives both re-examining their previously held ideas in this area.
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