The Briefing Room
General Category => Politics/Government => Topic started by: mystery-ak on August 16, 2020, 01:55:39 pm
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Trump says he's considering Snowden pardon
By Justin Wise - 08/16/20 08:30 AM EDT
President Trump said Saturday he is considering a pardon for Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor who was charged with espionage in 2013 after disclosing a trove of documents about U.S. surveillance programs.
"I’m going to look at it," Trump said during a news conference at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J. "I’m not that aware of the Snowden situation, but I’m going to start looking at it."
"It seems to be a split decision. There are many people think that he should be somehow treated differently and other people think he did very bad things," he added.
Snowden fled the U.S. and gained asylum in Russia after releasing a cache of classified documents that exposed the wide scope of surveillance inside the U.S. intelligence community. Federal prosecutors also charged him with theft of government property.
more
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/512209-trump-says-hes-considering-snowden-pardon
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Cheney calls pardoning Snowden 'unconscionable' after Trump says he's considering it
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/512261-cheney-calls-pardoning-snowden-unconscionable-after-trump-says-hes
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Actually, it would be great revenge on the deep state for the troubles they've caused him. And anyone who actually believes in the Constitution should back it. The whole point of Snowdon violating secrecy statutes was that those statutes were being used as cover for wholesale violations of the Fourth Amendment, on which being a good dutiful NSA spook and protesting up the chain of command would have had no effect.
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Snowden is a hero. He told us what deep state was up to. He did nothing wrong. He was a whistle blower and THEY ARE NOT TO BE PUNISHED. Like obama, did. Once POTUS...sees what they did to him..SNOWDEN WILL BE PARDONED. Snowden did not release any "secret" documents. INTEL...has it all.
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Cheney calls pardoning Snowden 'unconscionable' after Trump says he's considering it
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/512261-cheney-calls-pardoning-snowden-unconscionable-after-trump-says-hes
That Cheney is wrong. That is what she was told by Obama. Another RINO? IT WAS HILLARYS 33,000 unsecured e-mails, that informed Russia or China about it all and Feinstein with her 20 year CHINESE DRIVER, who was a spy. He did no such thing as she claims.
“Edward Snowden is a traitor. He is responsible for the largest and most damaging release of classified info in US history. He handed over US secrets to Russian and Chinese intelligence putting our troops and our nation at risk,†Cheney, the No. 3 Republican in the House, tweeted on Sunday afternoon, adding; “Pardoning him would be unconscionable.â€
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Snowden is a hero. He told us what deep state was up to. He did nothing wrong. He was a whistle blower and THEY ARE NOT TO BE PUNISHED. Like obama, did. Once POTUS...sees what they did to him..SNOWDEN WILL BE PARDONED. Snowden did not release any "secret" documents. INTEL...has it all.
You have proof of this? Let's hear it!!!!!
Otherwise, the fact is he someone who has stolen American intel who has been granted asyllum status in "RUSSIA". And if that it put our military at risk, or compromised of troops, then your statmement puts you in as bad a light as he is.
Calling Snowden a hero at this point? You better have your asbestos jacket on lady.
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I'm not sure I see Snowden any different than Bergdahl. I do not see how running off to the Russians was in the interests of the USA. There is a whistleblower process for reporting abuse. I don't think he attempted to run that path.
Trump's giving Snowden a pardon would encourage others to do as he did. I am sorry, but I say hell no!!!
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I have no idea what the HELL is going through his mind on that one.
Lose/lose.
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You have proof of this? Let's hear it!!!!!
Otherwise, the fact is he someone who has stolen American intel who has been granted asyllum status in "RUSSIA". And if that it put our military at risk, or compromised of troops, then your statmement puts you in as bad a light as he is.
Calling Snowden a hero at this point? You better have your asbestos jacket on lady.
@LegalAmerican @catfish1957
No kidding.
Think maybe these people think this because they have never been in the military and had a security clearance? I can't come up with any other explanation.
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Think maybe these people think this because they have never been in the military and had a security clearance? I can't come up with any other explanation.
Or maybe, whether they have been in the military or not, they believe the Constitution is superior to laws governing classified material and that exposing wholesale violations of the Fourth Amendment is more important than abiding by the lesser law of not releasing classified material.
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The problem is that all we know about this is what the media, both pro and con, are feeding us.
I can see merit in both sides but not comfortable with snowden simply walking, HOWEVER, to the best of my knowledge, nothing has changed.... The NSA is still operating that server farm snagging all the voice and data information to use as they wish, which bothers me also...
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Or maybe, whether they have been in the military or not, they believe the Constitution is superior to laws governing classified material and that exposing wholesale violations of the Fourth Amendment is more important than abiding by the lesser law of not releasing classified material.
@The_Reader_David
Maybe they believe grass is red and up is down?
WTF cares what they think?
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Cheney calls pardoning Snowden 'unconscionable' after Trump says he's considering it
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/512261-cheney-calls-pardoning-snowden-unconscionable-after-trump-says-hes
He said he would look at it. Doesn't mean he's going to give a pardon. But the left so loves to parse words and make it sound like whatever the opposite of the truth is.
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He said he would look at it. Doesn't mean he's going to give a pardon. But the left so loves to parse words and make it sound like whatever the opposite of the truth is.
Agree. I am going by memory. SNOWDEN is a hero. Media and LEFTS...have made him out to be a horrible person.
JUST LIKE THEY HAVE DONE TO POTUS! "THEY', HAVE CERTAINLY DONE A NUMBER ON HIM!
But the left so loves to parse words and make it sound like whatever the opposite of the truth is. =XENALEE
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Agree. I am going by memory. SNOWDEN is a hero. Media and LEFTS...have made him out to be a horrible person.
JUST LIKE THEY HAVE DONE TO POTUS! "THEY', HAVE CERTAINLY DONE A NUMBER ON HIM!
But the left so loves to parse words and make it sound like whatever the opposite of the truth is. =XENALEE
That's twice you have called a traitor a hero who likely gave intellgience to the Russians and Chicoms. You realize there may have been those in the CIA et. al who lost their lives because it?
AGAIN.... Give us some proof of his innocence, or face our wrath!!!!!
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@LegalAmerican @catfish1957
No kidding.
Think maybe these people think this because they have never been in the military and had a security clearance? I can't come up with any other explanation.
I didn't read catfish post, but I DO happen to have a Q clearance. I just remember what happened under Obama and SNOWDEN. SNOWDEN IS A HERO. NOT OBAMA, NOR MEDIA. SNOWDEN EXPOSED OBAMA. You can see the 'issue'. They have to demonize SNOWDEN.
HILLARYS', 33,000 E-MAILS, ON AN UNSECURED SERVER IN BATHROOM, WITH NO SECURITY CODE...... If Russia or China has some of our information....IT FROM THAT. NOT SNOWDEN.
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I didn't read catfish post, but I DO happen to have a Q clearance. I just remember what happened under Obama and SNOWDEN. SNOWDEN IS A HERO. NOT OBAMA, NOR MEDIA. SNOWDEN EXPOSED OBAMA. You can see the 'issue'. They have to demonize SNOWDEN.
HILLARYS', 33,000 E-MAILS, ON AN UNSECURED SERVER IN BATHROOM, WITH NO SECURITY CODE...... If Russia or China has some of our information....IT FROM THAT. NOT SNOWDEN.
You have that level of DOE security clearance, and you are making comments like this? Man, our vetting systems must suck now.
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From months ago; Same apply's to SNOWDEN. BOTH sides have spy's, if people think, our information is secure, I laugh. Ha.
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I've never understood what Julian Assange's crime was.
He published some state department emails between embassies that embarassed Hillary Clinton. For that, someone framed him for raping two women in Europe (my guess of course) and wanted him taken out.
But let's remember what Wikileak's "crime" was. They don't spy on anyone. They don't harm anyone with the truth. They ask that people who fear to publish government information send it to them.
I think Wikileaks provide a vital function of protecting against governmental control, worldwide. And yet they're simply a listing house for such leaked information, which any site on the internet could be on an given day.
I agree with xxxxxxx and hope that President Trump issues a pardon for Julian Assange.
We only have to remember what powerful person Assange offended to see the logic in this: HILLARY.
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@The_Reader_David
Maybe they believe grass is red and up is down?
WTF cares what they think?
Does that, written as a reply to my post, mean that you think the laws governing classified material are more important than the Constitution?
Hillary skated for violating those laws for personal gain. Snowden violated them in defense of the Fourth Amendment and the interests of all Americans. I truly hope Trump pardons him, and while he's at it, he can pardon the guy who got tossed in the stockade for trying to save his unit in Afghanistan by sending an e-mail that had some classified intel in it by Yahoo!Mail because it was all he had access to, who kept being brought up as an example when discussing the double standard being applied to Hillary.
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You have that level of DOE security clearance, and you are making comments like this? Man, our vetting systems must suck now.
That was years ago for husband working at test site. We both got cleared. SNOWDEN IS A HERO. Of course they have to demonize him. Assange & Snowden.
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I don't see why people who give correct information are targeted. What happened to protection for whistle blower's? Same with Snowden. I think BOTH are hero's for the American people. Let DOJ..BARR..do his thing.
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Does that, written as a reply to my post, mean that you think the laws governing classified material are more important than the Constitution?
Hillary skated for violating those laws for personal gain. Snowden violated them in defense of the Fourth Amendment and the interests of all Americans. I truly hope Trump pardons him, and while he's at it, he can pardon the guy who got tossed in the stockade for trying to save his unit in Afghanistan by sending an e-mail that had some classified intel in it by Yahoo!Mail because it was all he had access to, who kept being brought up as an example when discussing the double standard being applied to Hillary.
:thumbsup:
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The problem is that all we know about this is what the media, both pro and con, are feeding us.
I can see merit in both sides but not comfortable with snowden simply walking, HOWEVER, to the best of my knowledge, nothing has changed.... The NSA is still operating that server farm snagging all the voice and data information to use as they wish, which bothers me also...
Yup! 888high58888 We are THERE!
Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCZBnUt6rZ0&t=1208s#)
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I'm not sure I see Snowden any different than Bergdahl. I do not see how running off to the Russians was in the interests of the USA. There is a whistleblower process for reporting abuse. I don't think he attempted to run that path.
Trump's giving Snowden a pardon would encourage others to do as he did. I am sorry, but I say hell no!!!
They are as different as night to day. RUSSIA helped him save his life. OBAMA WANTED HIM DEAD for whistle blowing on Obama. MANY, DID NOT WANT TO GIVE HIM ASYLUM....RUSSIA FINALLY DID. I remember. There is nothing, else to reveal! We are officially in '1984". COMMUNISM. THE NWO.
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Top House Armed Services lawmakers warn against Trump pardoning Snowden
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/512373-top-house-armed-services-lawmakers-warn-against-trump-pardoning-snowden
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Top House Armed Services lawmakers warn against Trump pardoning Snowden
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/512373-top-house-armed-services-lawmakers-warn-against-trump-pardoning-snowden (https://thehill.com/policy/defense/512373-top-house-armed-services-lawmakers-warn-against-trump-pardoning-snowden)
Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efs3QRr8LWw#)
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Cheney, VP. Relation to Cheney who does not want pardon? SNOWDEN SPEAKS IN VIDEO.
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Top House Armed Services lawmakers warn against Trump pardoning Snowden
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/512373-top-house-armed-services-lawmakers-warn-against-trump-pardoning-snowden
Let's see.....
Do we believe 100% D & R bipartisan consensus of the Armed Service Comittee that Snowden did epic harm or do we believe Legal American?
@LegalAmerican , I'd suggest a retraction.
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Cheney, VP. Relation to Cheney who does not want pardon? SNOWDEN SPEAKS IN VIDEO.
Dick Cheney served his country honorably for 40 years. Was wrong on Iraq, but comparing his and Snowden's loyalty? You are nuts.
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Let's see.....
Do we believe 100% D & R bipartisan consensus of the Armed Service Comittee that Snowden did epic harm or do we believe Legal American?
@LegalAmerican , I'd suggest a retraction.
I don't get your upset. SNOWDEN talks in the video and tell's you everything. I am not any issue. Just a poster, messenger, bringing some facts to light. I am not asking you to believe anything, and it seems you ARENT. IS CHENEY A RELATIVE OF YOURS TOO? lol
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Dick Cheney served his country honorably for 40 years. Was wrong on Iraq, but comparing his and Snowden's loyalty? You are nuts.
Wow. Personal attack. I asked, was this CHENEY a relation to the one opposed to SNOWDEN PARDON? IT WOULD SHOW BIAS. I did not ask, talk, about any service by VP CHENEY. I asked were they related? I don't know. You are becoming unglued.
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Wow. Personal attack. I asked, was this CHENEY a relation to the one opposed to SNOWDEN PARDON? IT WOULD SHOW BIAS. I did not ask, talk, about any service by VP CHENEY. I asked were they related? I don't know. You are becoming unglued.
Me unglued? Pretty funny comng from your +40 font rants. I'll retract the "nuts" comment, as long as you come to your senses, and quit calling Edward Snowden a hero. You don't realize how badly that makes you look.
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You have that level of DOE security clearance, and you are making comments like this? Man, our vetting systems must suck now.
@catfish1957
@LegalAmerican
I had a Top Secret Crypto clearance while in the army,and a "code word clearance",which gives all access to a specific program.
The only place I ever heard of a "Q clearance" was in James Bond movies.
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@catfish1957
@LegalAmerican
I had a Top Secret Crypto clearance while in the army,and a "code word clearance",which gives all access to a specific program.
The only place I ever heard of a "Q clearance" was in James Bond movies.
@txradioguy
What about it,Tex? Ever heard of a "Q clearance"? You spent your career in Signals,so I figure you know more about this than I do.
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People around here talk about a Q clearance that work at the Idaho National Laboratory.
The DOe has a strong presence there. Probably the DOD.
Got to go on a field trip as an engineering student. The LOFT project. Loss of fluid test. You could stand on top of the reactor and see inside through small viewports while it was running.
As far as Snowden goes I think they should pardon him. But permanently revoke American citizenship.
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@catfish1957
@LegalAmerican
I had a Top Secret Crypto clearance while in the army,and a "code word clearance",which gives all access to a specific program.
The only place I ever heard of a "Q clearance" was in James Bond movies.
This was about 45 years ago. That is what I was told, unless, I am not remembering correctly. Does it matter? I thought this was about SNOWDEN? I did have a clearance with my husband who worked at the test site in Nevada.
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As far as Snowden goes I think they should pardon him. But permanently revoke American citizenship.
Then what would be the point of a pardon? He wants to live in America again. His family here.
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Then what would be the point of a pardon? He wants to live in America again. His family here.
@LegalAmerican
Well,he would be able to live in America again if he got a pardon. Unless of course it was some sort of conditional pardon. If there is even such a thing.
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This was about 45 years ago. That is what I was told, unless, I am not remembering correctly. Does it matter?
@LegalAmerican
No more than most of the other stuff we post here,but I AM curious about it because I don't know. In the shadow world of code-word classifications,anything is possible.
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@LegalAmerican
No more than most of the other stuff we post here,but I AM curious about it because I don't know. In the shadow world of code-word classifications,anything is possible.
lol. Ok. Thank you. :seeya:
btw that video I posted, talks about SNOWDEN....too. The lady journalist who put this together, got arrested by our government. (Not Trump adm.) Must be too much truth. Both SHE & her husband were arrested in front of their kids.
I put the video here.
http://banned.video/watch?id=5f37fcc2df77c4044ee2eb03 (http://banned.video/watch?id=5f37fcc2df77c4044ee2eb03)
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Dick Cheney served his country honorably for 40 years. Was wrong on Iraq, but comparing his and Snowden's loyalty? You are nuts.
Dick Cheney is as deep state as you can get.
There were key points revealed from the material Snowden released. But not everything saw the light of day.
Bush and his admin plus Obama and his admin have more to answer for than Snowden.
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Then what would be the point of a pardon? He wants to live in America again. His family here.
Does revoking his citizenship stop him from living here?
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Dick Cheney is as deep state as you can get.
There were key points revealed from the material Snowden released. But not everything saw the light of day.
Bush and his admin plus Obama and his admin have more to answer for than Snowden.
Amen, bhf. You get it.
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Amen, bhf. You get it.
Well Freddie, yourself, and I will have to diverge here
Comparing deepstate, which I am obviously no fan of, and a person who likely sold intelligence secrets to the Russians and Chicoms, and likely got intellgence agents killed? You really want to go on record of stating something like this? You really might want to rethink that position.
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Well Freddie, yourself, and I will have to diverge here
Comparing deepstate, which I am obviously no fan of, and a person who likely sold intelligence secrets to the Russians and Chicoms, and likely got intellgence agents killed? You really want to go on record of stating something like this? You really might want to rethink that position.
@catfish1957
I'm with you. I don't get it,either. If there is something I missed out on or forgot about,I sure wish someone would remind me.
To the best of my memory,the SOB committed treason and deserves to be executed,not set free.
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@catfish1957
I'm with you. I don't get it,either. If there is something I missed out on or forgot about,I sure wish someone would remind me.
To the best of my memory,the SOB committed treason and deserves to be executed,not set free.
@sneakypete
I know and get the anger at the established creatures in the Deepstate swamp. Still those turds are our counter politically, vs. Snowden who as like you said is a treasonous traitor who should be executed if returned to this country. Considering breadth and scope, who knows, the damage he did, may have been on par with the Rosenbergs in the early '50's. With of course the main difference, Snowden was able to haul ass before being nabbed.
Seeing folks supposedly on our side, giving aid to this type of behavior is kind of troubling.
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t
@sneakypete
I know and get the anger at the established creatures in the Deepstate swamp. Still those turds are our counter politically, vs. Snowden who as like you said is a treasonous traitor who should be executed if returned to this country. Considering breadth and scope, who knows, the damage he did, may have been on par with the Rosenbergs in the early '50's. With of course the main difference, Snowden was able to haul ass before being nabbed.
Seeing folks supposedly on our side, giving aid to this type of behavior is kind of troubling.
@catfish1957
It is more than "kind of troubling" to me. It makes me think that I am wrong because I missed or forgot something.
IF that is the case,I want to know what it is. Just,"He's not guility,neener,neener,neener" ain't good enough.
Something is either right or it is wrong,and it stands on it's own regardless of whose oxen gets gored.
Or saved.
If I am wrong,I want someone to explain to me WHY I am wrong.
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Well Freddie, yourself, and I will have to diverge here
Comparing deepstate, which I am obviously no fan of, and a person who likely sold intelligence secrets to the Russians and Chicoms, and likely got intellgence agents killed? You really want to go on record of stating something like this? You really might want to rethink that position.
Yeah. I really want to go on record with my position.
Without the Patriot Act, the massive spying programs against Americans may never have taken place. And no whistleblower, or traitor, as you call him, would have come forth.
No useless and overreaching departments like TSA and Homeland Security.
The American government resoundingly betrayed, and still are betraying, the American people.
A useless war in Iraq. An ongoing useless war in F ghanistan. Wars that didn't likely get thousands killed. They did get thousands killed. And still are.
There are SIXTEEN intelligence agencies in the U.S.
For them to spy on me, or you, is unforgivable. Period.
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t
@catfish1957
It is more than "kind of troubling" to me. It makes me think that I am wrong because I missed or forgot something.
IF that is the case,I want to know what it is. Just,"He's not guility,neener,neener,neener" ain't good enough.
Something is either right or it is wrong,and it stands on it's own regardless of whose oxen gets gored.
Or saved.
If I am wrong,I want someone to explain to me WHY I am wrong.
@sneakypete
For me, it comes down to a simple question. Either Clapper and Co. or Snowden are lying...
Clapper stated under oath that the NSA was NOT spying on Americans and Snowden says they are.
Clapper said Snowden did NOT escalated his concerns, Snowden said he did.
The feds do NOT have unlimited authority, to include the NSA so when the deep state runs amok and is protecting itself, what do you do? Stick your head in the sand and keep cashing the checks....
Don't get me wrong, I am not convinced of anything other than the feds were operating an illegal operation and got caught.
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I'll talk to ya'll later. Gotta go to work.
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I'll talk to ya'll later. Gotta go to work.
There you go with those 4 letter words again...
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Yeah. I really want to go on record with my position.
Without the Patriot Act, the massive spying programs against Americans may never have taken place. And no whistleblower, or traitor, as you call him, would have come forth.
No useless and overreaching departments like TSA and Homeland Security.
The American government resoundingly betrayed, and still are betraying, the American people.
A useless war in Iraq. An ongoing useless war in F ghanistan. Wars that didn't likely get thousands killed. They did get thousands killed. And still are.
There are SIXTEEN intelligence agencies in the U.S.
For them to spy on me, or you, is unforgivable. Period.
Agree 100%, but you are missing the point. There is a huge difference in incompetency of government versus an indiviudal who purposely, intentionally, and malicioulsy gave out our natinal secuirty secrets to our sworn enemies. Snowden is no hero. Intelligence Agents likely died from his dirty deed. IMO- that puts him on an entirely higher different despicable level than our govenment..
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Agree 100%, but you are missing the point. There is a huge difference in incompetency of government versus an indiviudal who purposely, intentionally, and malicioulsy gave out our natinal secuirty secrets to our sworn enemies. Snowden is no hero. Intelligence Agents likely died from his dirty deed. IMO- that puts him on an entirely higher different despicable level than our govenment..
I have never read/heard of anyone being killed because of the Snowden release...
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I have never read/heard of anyone being killed because of the Snowden release...
And you never will for obvious reasons.
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And you never will for obvious reasons.
Disagree.... The media salivates over this stuff and it would leak out... Case in point....
Robert Hanssen American law enforcement agent and spyRobert Hanssen, in full Robert Philip Hanssen, (born April 18, 1944, Chicago (https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago), Illinois (https://www.britannica.com/place/Illinois-state), U.S.), agent of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Federal-Bureau-of-Investigation) (FBI) who was one of the Soviet Union (https://www.britannica.com/place/Soviet-Union)’s and Russia’s most valuable double agents and the most damaging spy ever to penetrate the FBI.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Hanssen (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Hanssen)
Consequences....
Well, we're talking about, first of all, the names of about 50 people within the soviet system that were either recruited by the U.S. to spy for us, or were being recruited. At least three of those were executed, including Dimitri Polyakov who was the greatest agent the U.S. ever had inside that system and did invaluable service for the U.S. during in the missile crisis with Cuba, up through the Vietnam War. This is the first thing he gave up on his first trip to see the Russians.
The second time he went in to see Russians in 1985, he gave up two more men who were working within the KGB in Washington, it was the first penetration the FBI had ever managed of this. He gave away technological secrets at the very moment when there was a coup of… Gorbachev was detained in the Soviet Union, some old liners in the KGB were trying to overthrow him. They had their hands on a nuclear football, and he was blinding the United States to the military and government communication that would tell us what was going on.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/damage-assessment-convicted-spy-robert-hanssen (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/damage-assessment-convicted-spy-robert-hanssen)
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Agree 100%, but you are missing the point. There is a huge difference in incompetency of government versus an indiviudal who purposely, intentionally, and malicioulsy gave out our natinal secuirty secrets to our sworn enemies. Snowden is no hero. Intelligence Agents likely died from his dirty deed. IMO- that puts him on an entirely higher different despicable level than our govenment..
I get your point.
I simply disagree that his action(s) "puts him on an entirely higher different despicable level than our govenment".
Sure, Snowden broke laws. Civil laws.
He took an oath to protect NSA secrets.
He also swore to uphold the Constitution.
Tough choice.
Take a look at the history of clemency, amnesty, pardons, or immunity types of things. Start with Nixon and move on to draft dodgers, up the line.
Iran-Contra. See what I am getting at? How many people died because of Kaspar Weinberger's actions? Yet... Before Weinberger could be tried on the original charges, he received a pardon on December 24, 1992, from then President Bush.
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I don't see Snowden as a hero,
but
I don't see Snowden as a traitor, either.
I do see him as someone who performed a necessary service to the citizens of this country.
I chose the phrase "citizens of this country" carefully.
Snowden's "revelations" did not benefit the military, politicians, nor the deep state.
But they DID pull the covers off some of the less-than-virtuous goin's on regarding U.S. spying on its own citizenry.
I've got no problems with that.
None at all.
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@EdinVA
For me, it comes down to a simple question. Either Clapper and Co. or Snowden are lying...
No,there is also the possibility/PROBABILITY they were both lying.
Clapper stated under oath that the NSA was NOT spying on Americans and Snowden says they are.
Clapper said Snowden did NOT escalated his concerns, Snowden said he did.
See the above.
The feds do NOT have unlimited authority, to include the NSA so when the deep state runs amok and is protecting itself, what do you do? Stick your head in the sand and keep cashing the checks....
Agreed,but that does NOT mean they do NOT have the authority to do this when warranted.
Also,the intelligence world is a pretty "murky" place,and that is putting it politely. You get into code word investigations,and you are literally barred from telling anyone what you were doing or anything about the program you are protecting.
I was personally involved with a program widely considered to be "illegal" in Asia. My unit was supposed to be conducting operations in VN,but were actually operating in Laos,Cambodia,and North Vietnam. We were gathering intelligence of enemy troop movements and capabilities,calling in air strikes on them,conducting "POW Snatches" of NVA soldiers,rescuing American pilots that had been shot down,etc,etc,etc.
We were NOT doing this on our own,but at the direction of the Pentagram and the White House. Was it illegal under international law? You bet. We were told when we volunteered for SOG that we would be going in without any US ID,and if captured,the Army would say we were deserters or just AWOL. We could even be executed legally under international law as spys,and some of us were.
SOME people want to whine about this,yet not whisper a word of protest about the North Vietnamese also being there illegally.
Sometimes governments MUST do things that are technically "questionable" or even illegal under international law in order to save the lives of their military members and to win the damn war.
This has been true of EVERY war since the first war was fought under international laws.
There are also situations were exposing one covert program to the enemy also risks exposing another that is of great benefit. So the negotiators and politicians lie. Big Whoop. This ain't kindergarten. This is real life where real lives are at risk,as well as the survival of nations.
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@catfish1957
@LegalAmerican
I had a Top Secret Crypto clearance while in the army,and a "code word clearance",which gives all access to a specific program.
The only place I ever heard of a "Q clearance" was in James Bond movies.
Never heard of it myself. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist in some dark corner of the Pentagon for people with a need to know level of access. Then again if it's CIA related it could give the coffee service at Langley access to the break rooms to refill the pods for the Keirug.
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Never heard of it myself. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist in some dark corner of the Pentagon for people with a need to know level of access.
@txradioguy
True. Especially if they were to screw up and put some sick,trouble making person with a twisted sense of humor in charge of code words.
Somebody like me,for example.
Then again if it's CIA related it could give the coffee service at Langley access to the break rooms to refill the pods for the Keirug.
See the above. She would be lucky to not have to answer as "Scooby Doo" and not have to do a voice imitation and "Scooby" quote to get to the coffee pot.
I am an acquired taste.