The NSA has been under fire for the past few months after former contractor Edward Snowden released a cache of classified material regarding government surveillance techniques to outside sources. In recent news, British MI5 chief Andrew Parker condemned Snowden's actions as similar to giving "gifts to terrorists." The intelligence chief addressed UK news stating that in order to fight terrorism, both domestically and abroad, intelligence services need to have the tools to monitor threats: a statement that I agree with (although his wording was a little strong for my liking). While a certain level of oversight is necessary, US and UK authorities need to have the operational flexibility to conduct operations vital to national security. In this instance the NSA may have overstepped its constitutional bounds and lacked appropriate oversight, but to say that Snowden's actions were responsible (or worthy of the Sakharov Prize) would be absurd. Although some have cast him in the role of the American patriot on a quest to protect the rights of American citizens, Edward Snowden seems to be acting purely to discredit the United States in international affairs (cough releasing information just prior to the G-20 Summit cough). The reckless information leaks that have been lauded by the likes of Julian Assange and Vladimir Putin have only served to humiliate the US in world affairs and throw the NSA and General Keith Alexander under the Congressional bus. While Snowden's actions were certainly bold, he forfeited his image as the American patriot through his flight to China and later Russia, two countries with reprehensible policies regarding human rights. Calling Snowden a traitor is a cheap emotional cop-out, but to call him a hero is to glamorize a reckless game with dangerous outcomes.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Even the Brits don't like Snowden
The NSA has been under fire for the past few months after former contractor Edward Snowden released a cache of classified material regarding government surveillance techniques to outside sources. In recent news, British MI5 chief Andrew Parker condemned Snowden's actions as similar to giving "gifts to terrorists." The intelligence chief addressed UK news stating that in order to fight terrorism, both domestically and abroad, intelligence services need to have the tools to monitor threats: a statement that I agree with (although his wording was a little strong for my liking). While a certain level of oversight is necessary, US and UK authorities need to have the operational flexibility to conduct operations vital to national security. In this instance the NSA may have overstepped its constitutional bounds and lacked appropriate oversight, but to say that Snowden's actions were responsible (or worthy of the Sakharov Prize) would be absurd. Although some have cast him in the role of the American patriot on a quest to protect the rights of American citizens, Edward Snowden seems to be acting purely to discredit the United States in international affairs (cough releasing information just prior to the G-20 Summit cough). The reckless information leaks that have been lauded by the likes of Julian Assange and Vladimir Putin have only served to humiliate the US in world affairs and throw the NSA and General Keith Alexander under the Congressional bus. While Snowden's actions were certainly bold, he forfeited his image as the American patriot through his flight to China and later Russia, two countries with reprehensible policies regarding human rights. Calling Snowden a traitor is a cheap emotional cop-out, but to call him a hero is to glamorize a reckless game with dangerous outcomes.
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