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James Clapper Giving Speeches To Students, Begging Them To Stop Thinking Of Ed Snowden As A Hero
techdirt ^ | April 21, 2013 | Mike Masnick

Posted on 04/21/2014 4:12:15 PM PDT by opentalk

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To: OneWingedShark

And what “murder” did Snowden expose to Putin?


21 posted on 04/21/2014 9:30:39 PM PDT by logic101.net (How many more children must die on the altar of gun control?)
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To: MeganC

Sure it was all classified, but his initial dump related to an over-reach by El-Presidente on his spying against the American people. Blanket spying against the American people in violation of Constitutional protections.


22 posted on 04/21/2014 9:33:18 PM PDT by logic101.net (How many more children must die on the altar of gun control?)
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To: logic101.net
And what “murder” did Snowden expose to Putin?

None — it is a hypothetical question for establishing principles; namely: does a confidentiality agreement (e.g. classified operations) extend to patently illegal actions? How about very questionable actions?

As a practical/real example (since you seem to have trouble with theory) consider Fast & Furious — the operation was trafficking firearms to Mexico, sometimes using known felons, in violation of treaty and arming the cartels (and providing legal protection to those to whom the arms were given), all of which is likely the clearest case of treason in a hundred years.

Would slapping a 'classified' stamp on the operation oblige all agents with knowledge thereof to remain silent? Or do they have a moral and/or legal obligation to act against its implementation even if it means violating the 'classified' status thereof?

If the BATF agents had[/have] an obligation to expose such illegal activities, then did not Snowden have such obligation to expose the illegal activities he witnessed?

23 posted on 04/21/2014 9:44:06 PM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: logic101.net
He didn't expose them to China or Russia, he fled to places where his safety would be more assured than it would if he stayed here.
If you believe that he would have been safe here after exposing, or attempting to expose, the depth of corruption in the NSA (and other 'intelligence' agencies) then I suppose that you also believe that the Benghazi incident was just tragic miscommunication and that Extortion 17 was just a tragic accident and that Fast & Furious was just a sting operation gone bad, no?
24 posted on 04/21/2014 10:12:06 PM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: OneWingedShark

Committing a crime in defense of the law is still a crime.


25 posted on 04/22/2014 9:01:19 AM PDT by MeganC (Support Matt Bevin to oust Mitch McConnell! https://mattbevin.com/)
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To: OneWingedShark

First off I don’t believe anything this administration says, don’t accuse me of carrying their water!

You seem to be under the impression that Snowden was not telling our adversaries anything they could use against our nation. What evidence do you have of this? If he was not helping them then why first Red China then Russia? Would Putin waste his time with this guy if he wasn’t giving up “useful” info?

Why did he run to the Red Chinese first? Why not England? Canada? Columbia? Why did he only turn up in countries that are hostile to us? And why was he treated well in those countries?

Do you believe everything Putin says?


26 posted on 04/22/2014 10:19:55 AM PDT by logic101.net (How many more children must die on the altar of gun control?)
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To: logic101.net
First off I don’t believe anything this administration says, don’t accuse me of carrying their water!

If you squawk like an feral government rat…

You seem to be under the impression that Snowden was not telling our adversaries anything they could use against our nation. What evidence do you have of this?

Simple: the complete lack of anything substantial from the he's a traitor, leaking classified documents-squad — to include government officials presenting a case against Snowden. (i.e. they have produced nothing that shows how he has jeopardized legitimate operations — they do, however, show a lot of what the government is doing behind closed1 doors is plainly contraconstitutional.)

If he was not helping them then why first Red China then Russia? Would Putin waste his time with this guy if he wasn’t giving up “useful” info?

For the PR: portrayal Russia as a better, more just, more humane nation. To get under Obama's thin skin. To provide a specter of knowledge.
There's a dozen reasons.

Why did he run to the Red Chinese first? Why not England? Canada? Columbia? Why did he only turn up in countries that are hostile to us? And why was he treated well in those countries?

England and Canada are right out due to extradition treaties — Russia and China are two countries which he had a reasonable chance of protection from being Brietbarted by the administration.

Do you believe everything Putin says?

Nope; but I believe my government even less — and they claim that Snowden is a traitor without offering anything more than pounding on the table2.


1 — read as classified.
2 — From the world of lawyering: if you have the law on your side, argue the law; if you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. And if you have neither, pound the table.

27 posted on 04/22/2014 11:40:06 AM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: OneWingedShark

Russia as a better, more just, more humane nation

Do you really believe that? If so you are beyond hope.


28 posted on 04/22/2014 11:43:05 AM PDT by logic101.net (How many more children must die on the altar of gun control?)
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To: MeganC
Committing a crime in defense of the law is still a crime.

Then you are saying that it is legally acceptable to have a no win situation — where to act for, or against, or fail to act are all criminal acts?
What a nightmare world you must live in.


Relevant:

Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We want them broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against - then you'll know that this is not the age for beautiful gestures. We're after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you'd better get wise to it. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted - and you create a nation of law-breakers - and then you cash in on guilt. Now, that's the system, Mr. Rearden, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."

29 posted on 04/22/2014 11:46:34 AM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: logic101.net
>> Russia as a better, more just, more humane nation
>
> Do you really believe that? If so you are beyond hope.

Good job on cutting out the context; the first portion of the sentence is: For the PR: portrayal [of].
And no, I don't belive PR has to be accurate — actually, I am rather suspicious that it's more favorable to be inaccurate.

30 posted on 04/22/2014 11:49:12 AM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: opentalk

Anyone remember the old days when “the rule of law” wasn’t a phrase that was rightfully mocked as a bad joke? You know, back in the day when committing purjury in front of congress would at least get you fired, if not indicted?


31 posted on 04/22/2014 12:11:09 PM PDT by Orangedog (An optimist is someone who tells you to 'cheer up' when things are going his way)
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To: opentalk

In a just world, Snowden would be making speeches to students and Clapper would be making license plates.


32 posted on 04/27/2014 7:41:46 PM PDT by Flame Retardant
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To: logic101.net

Actually, he was headed for Ecuador but got stuck in Russia when the US (rather stupidly) pulled his passport at just the wrong time, stranding him there.


33 posted on 04/27/2014 7:47:44 PM PDT by Flame Retardant
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