Sunday, June 23, 2013

How to Tell Whether Snowden is a Traitor

See if he keeps running.

If he really, truly believed what he did was right and proper, he would come back and face the government and pull out their dirty laundry for the people to see.  Until he does that, you can say with some certainty that he is not 100% convinced of the rightness of his own actions.

Other evidence: he was hiding in China, now he's hiding in Russia.  Both of these entities have been less than friendly to the US in the past and are, at best, coolly cordial even now.  It cannot do his image any favors by taking refuge in either country.

The way I look at it, Snowden's actions may have some merit.  Some.  Not a lot.  But even if it were a good idea to do, I still don't think this was the way to do it.  And his persistence in taking refuge in countries that have a vested interest in gaining as much insight into the US' intelligence gathering processes as they possibly can, cannot cast his rationale into a better light.  No, that makes him look like he was doing it for someone, and has now managed to get back to his bosses' home bases.

So, Snowden, if you're reading this - and I doubt if you are, but here's hoping - face the music.  You're a little too public to be summarily executed so you have a good chance at living through quite a few more birthdays.  But if you really are quite certain of the legitimacy of how you've revealed things, or even more so certain of the illegitimacy of the NSA's intelligence gathering, step up to the mike.  Step out into the light.  If there's something that needs to be brought to light, bring it.  Be up front, quit skulking.

Or admit you're just another opportunistic weasel, making a quick buck and running while you can.  And if that's the case, well, choke on the paycheck.

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