The irony of the United States is we are becoming what we have been fighting to prevent over the last 100 years.....

In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

Orwell

Snowden is on record saying that he's an "ordinary guy" with "no special training". Yet he's put his life, liberty and future happiness at risk for the betterment of the world. It is blindingly obvious that he did not do this for personal advancement--not for money, power, or influence. Nor did he do it for one country. He did it for mankind.

He may not be a saint, but he is a hero. Not the one we deserve, perhaps. But the one we need.

History will not treat the current and previous American Administrations kindly. Nor will history look kindly upon apologists for (and I do not consider this too strong a word) evil--some level of privacy is a basic human right. Anyone writing in favour of the current regime is acting against freedom and all who hold the electronic age dear.

The internet never forgets. It never forgives. It is bigger, meaner, smarter, and much more ill-tempered than a writer will ever be. Than the NSA could ever be. Never mess with the internet.

...He is... Batman...

so we don't listen to Russia when they tip us off about the older tsarnaev brother but we expect full cooperation from them in this instance, it's gotta be a two way street

How did Russia get the information to "tip us off'? I bet they wiretapped...
You are the first to blame the US for attacks and also the first to blame the US for preventing attacks. Please make a choice you can't take both sides sir.

You are mistaken. US government and American people are 2 opposite things. Anyone committed any crime against the American people are traitors including those we put in office. Government wants him not for the info he has, but to set an example to intimidate other would-be whistle blowers. US Government needs to restore all rights guaranteed by our constitution before the American people would stand behind it on anything it wants to do. At the moment, our government is run by some very shady people..

I agree with you. I suspect there is pressure to stop leaks because it wasn't enforced enough in the past and our intel people work in an increasingly complex environment. So the increased enforcement is just playing catch up to laxity in the past.

Move to North Korea if you distrust the US so much. We'll hold the door open for you. Hurry off now!

you first TinkerToes, I have every right to distrust my government. Distrust allows us to find corruption in our government, to keep them in check. Why should we ever fear our government? Our government should live in fear of us. They should be doing everything in their power to allow us to live free and happy, and they don't. So if you want to live blindly, and just want to be a yes man, then how about you go to North Korea, they are all yes men, and look how it has worked for them.

Seriously t2vodka.. how many people do you see immigrating to China or Russia?

I'm sure they will welcome you with open arms, particularly after you brief them on how corrupt and evil this gov. is.

It would certainly seem that if you are so paranoid and distrustful of your gov. that you realize that you have MANY, MANY options.

I can make you a list if you are stuck.

Most countries do not give immigrants full citizenship immediately. If someone is complaining that they are not being properly represented by the US government (which probably DOES allow them to vote), is moving to a country where they have NO say in government a sane thing to do?

Many countries have border controls and labour market controls. When making your list, you have to limit it to only countries which have a mostly free labour market open to US citizens. The United Kingdom is out, for example, as UK labour law requires that a company wishing to hire a non-EU resident first demonstrate that no EU resident is willing to take the job.

So, yes, make your list. I'm not even going to ask you to limit it to countries that give immigrants the right to vote immediately - just countries that have open labour markets and allow a path to citizenship that would give a typical foreigner voting rights if they spent four years in the country without marrying a citizen. (By comparison, if people stay in the US, they usually get to vote on their House reps every two years, and unmarried people are allowed to vote in US elections.)

Great comment! I am with you on this one!

Love it! Other than traitors I don't see citizens lining up to go to places like China and Russia...I am sure they are nice place but general want to come to the land of the free. Those that complain lack patriotism and would not serve or defend their country...those that would, feel different.

I was unable to serve in the military due to a heart condition (I tried). My dad was Navy, my brother is in the Reserves, and my brother-in-law was a chopper pilot in Vietnam so i know a bit about people who serve in the military. None of them are happy about the course our country is on and are stockpiling food and ammo.
Have you or anyone close to you served in the military? I think not...

Wrong, my Father served in and fought in the Korean Conflict, still serving during Vietnam and eventually retiring...I have had a number of my family members are career service men and women...one serving for the last 20 years of conflict and is still in service...oh yeah I served my country in active duty as well for a four year tour. Bet none of your family members would do what Beingadick Snowden did. Your family can stock pile all the food and ammo they want; I just don't see past service members stealing sensitive information from the government to share with adversaries.

You should not make assumptions of this nature Mary Joiner. We all serve our country in the way we feel best, some in the Military, others in various other ways. When our government betrays is, its not only our right, but our obligation to object to this betrayal, and get the culprits out and set things straight.

If we were the Titanic, that iceberg is just around the corner. The folks who blindly support the corruption and refuse to believe the inevitable will end up suffer most. We can't help everyone. so good for you for the foresight. prep now, prep quietly.

Oh BALONEY. Grow a pair.

After you grow a single brain cell, I will work on my pair.

Tell me about it, are people really that stupid? They have no idea what they are being set up for.

If you truly believe that the United States government is so bad, why do you still live here? Why aren't you residing in one of those bastions of "freedom", "liberty," and "human rights" focused countries like China or Russia? I'm sure they'd LOVE to have you. Hurry off now! Au revoir!

I'm Canadian, I live in Ontario. I'm watching this happen from a distance as a third person view. I currently do live in a Bastion of Freedom, and hate to see you guy's slowly losing yours in a tale that is very telling.

My IQ is 144. What is yours?

So when are you going to start using it?

sorry, you have brain cells, just lack common sense then.

i would give you a hundred thumbs up if I could - you hit the nail on the head with your comment.

Hi Stupid,

Your reply makes no sense in response or context. Please google a whistle blower vs traitor...pLEASE DO THAT OR APPLY TO A COLLEGE TO HELP YOU..OR PLEASE READ..The American government is not seperate from the people. Please move back to Syria and drive your cab there. At the very least take an american history course and be thankful you can post nonsense on this site. I bet you can't at home.Good luck on your test.

-Everyone that has to read your garbage

Call me nay name you want because you are young and I am forgiving. Your reply has only rants without any logic. You might feel this way simply because that's how you are supposed to fee by design and the propaganda that's being fed to our young people. In time, you will see that WE THE PEOPLE are who the frames want to protect from all threats foreign and domestic with the government being the single largest threat to our liberty. The division of power, checks and balances are in place for US yet they are being circumvented by the people running the government. In time your stance will change when you have kids and spend a moment to think if this is the future you want to help create where they can pay more if they pay any taxes, law breakers get a pass if they support the government, and if God forbids they become successful, they will be labeled as not paying their fair share.... etc. Laws are written as the rules of the playing field. It's inconvenient, but we all play by it simply because lawless would be worse. Now, there is this special group who can circumvent the rules whenever it suits them. It's like insider trading to get an edge on the opponent. Do you think it's fair? Do you have confidence to continue to play by the rules that only you the good guy would follow? If you believe it's a small thing to give in and they would stop right here, then you are naive. Tolerating bad behavior is the same as encouraging it, it reinforces the belief that's an effective method to achieve their goal, they will surely go for the next step towards eroding away any right you thought you have.

Indians probably laughed at those who distrusted Andrew Jackson's government before they saw Indian Removal Act. Jews probably thought they could make a separate peace with the third reich in1933 Germany. The list goes on. You can't believe if you only listen to what's said but not seeing what's done. You are insulting, you are at least passionate. You are already better than those who simply said... oh well, nothing I can do, oh, that's just how it has been.... I hope you keep on reading and thinking. When you see all that's happening and what it means to you and your kids, you will change sides and you will be an ally. We can all disagree on things, but people who circumvent rules are by definition corrupt and abusing power. Neither liberal and conservation can just say that's what they do and we MUST be ok with it.

Whistle blower my but from one citizen to another...Greenwald, Snowden and Assange are traitors. Grow up this is the real world and a shadow of a man should not interject himself into international affairs. He does not have a clue how world governments operate.

Did you come up with these garbage yourself or did you copy from some B.S. propaganda somewhere? I can't believe we are fighting for your rights to be stupid. Unfortunately, it's a package deal.

Why are you fighting to be stupid when common sense is free?

It is the truth...you sheep would not serve your country to protect your nation...you sit back and let the sheep dogs protect the herd with never showing appreciation for the work the dogs are doing to protect the herd of sheep for keeping them safe. The wolves and coyotes set out of sight where the sheep cannot see them and it is at this point the herd of sheep begin to challenge the sheep dogs for their freedom to move about....so what happens when the herd of sheep is able to move about freely without protection...The sheep dogs weren't keep the sheep in they are keeping out the wolfs and coyotes.

You are a bleating billy goat who enjoys hearing yourself talk. What makes you an expert on the military and foreign affairs? Or are you just spouting what left-wing nutbars are telling you to think?

Right, I don't know about foreign and military affairs and I think it is safe to say neither do you...Now, Snowden a private citizen working in government knows as much as you and I about foreign and military affairs. That's is exactly why he should have just mind his business and did his job...he does not have a clue why our government is doing or why they are doing it...next you will think is okay for Snowden to do brain surgery...judging by your multiple responses you like to hear me talk too...thanks

Speaking of not having a clue, Assange is Australian. He cannot possibly be a traitor to the US. That is logically impossible. However, your talking heads of choice have used the word enough that you think it blankets anything and everything. I bet you want to keep the government's grubby mitts off your social security, too.

PLEASE cite where I blamed the US for wiretapping for the purpose of preventing attacks

PLEASE

"which exposed far bigger crimes committed by the US government?"

Here you go!

yeah the far bigger crimes are not wiretapping potential terrorists - that's okay by me and I'm not sure what everyone else thought the NSA has been doing for all these years

I'm talking about targeting political groups in the US and attacking foreign governments' cyber defense programs?

Snowden will continue to release more damning information as he has indicated - if he lives long enough

The United States has billions invested in defense. China comes along and steals(cyber) all of our research. They don't have to invest billions. So, we shouldn't prevent that with our own tactics? The targeting of political groups...This should not happen but you are basically saying China and Russia should be the judge and jury on this matter if you agree snowden should give this info to them. Why did he not hand these secrets to Canada, Australia, or England?

please read articles before posting

"Snowden has acknowledged that he leaked classified documents about the NSA's surveillance programs to the Guardian newspaper in BRITAIN and to The Washington Post."

Barack has acknowledged...

"the government should be required to convince a judge that the records they are seeking 'have some connection to a suspected terrorist or spy."

Then his NSA seized the phone records of at least 100 minion Americans.

Do 100 million Americans 'have some connection to a suspected terrorist or spy."?

Our government treats us like we are the enemy.

Wrong, our government treats us like respectable Americans while trying to protect us from getting our limbs blown off by scoping out terrorists. If you have nothing to hide, why hide anything? Would you rather have them ignore that you called your grams last sunday while allowing Al Qaeda sympathizers phoning their compatriots in Pakistan who intend to bomb an elementary school? Choose? Your privacy that you called your gram or 23 elementary school children potentially dying. Which is more important? Your privacy OR identifying potential terrorist actions? Which?

This prgrogram has been going on for YEARS. Would anyone here care to state if they have been harassed by the NSA recently? Anyone???

You just gobble up that terrorist stuff they feed you... They throw that word around until you become a scared submissive sheep ready for extortion.

it's true mistawolf, and the one story they were talking about weren't even the terrorists that you, tinker, were programed to believe would attack, instead they were KKK members, attacking the Arabs. everyone is a terrorist, even you. otherwise, why look at you're information? and this is the America you're proud of?

The single most important thing to ensure the safety of everyone in our country is to halt actions that violate our Constitutional rights.

So yes, respect of personal property, which includes privacy, is FAR more important than the possibility of identifying potential terrorist actions.

The most appropriate reply! I mean, if we can all agree that the Terrorists hate you're freedom, then we can agree they probably like you more now that you're freedoms are teetering on the edge. THEY have caused you to be tolerant of your government snooping on you, WIN Terrorist.

Barack Obama: "the government should be required to convince a judge that the records they are seeking 'have some connection to a suspected terrorist or spy."

Then his NSA seized the phone records of at least 100 minion Americans.

Do 100 million Americans 'have some connection to a suspected terrorist or spy."?

So was Barack lying, or worse, just stupid?