Who's being naive, Kay?

[OmahaBlueDog]

Kay Adams: Do you know how naive you sound, Michael? Presidents and senators don't have men killed.
Michael: Oh. Who's being naive, Kay?

National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden is guilty of treason, the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said Monday.

“I don’t look at this as being a whistle-blower,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calf.) said. “I think it’s an act of treason.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/304635-nsa-leak-is-treason-says-sen-feinstein#ixzz2W1JbEh7t

On June 4, 1986, Jonathan Pollard pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to deliver national defense information to a foreign government.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Pollard

On February 22, 1994, Ames and his wife were formally charged by the United States Department of Justice with spying for the Soviet Union and Russia. Ames' betrayal resulted in the deaths of a number of CIA assets. He pleaded guilty on April 28 and received a sentence of life imprisonment. His wife received a 5-year prison sentence for tax evasion and conspiracy to commit espionage as part of a plea-bargain by Ames.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldrich_Ames

In 1990, New York Times journalist John J. O'Connor reported, "It's been estimated by some intelligence experts that Mr. Walker provided enough code-data information to alter significantly the balance of power between Russia and the United States".[14] Asked later how he had managed to access so much classified information, Walker said, "KMart has better security than the Navy".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Anthony_Walker

With the representation of Washington lawyer Plato Cacheris, Hanssen negotiated a plea bargain that enabled him to escape the death penalty in exchange for co-operating with authorities. On July 6, 2001, he pleaded guilty to fifteen counts of espionage in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hanssen

I'd suppose my question for the distinguished Senator from California would be this: if we didn't charge bona fide foreign operatives noted above with treason, why would you think we'd charge Snowden? Espionage? perhaps. Revealing classified information? OK, sure. Treason? That's a bit of a stretch.

My second question would be this: did Snowden reveal anything all that surprising? I grew up in Maryland during the 70's. The NSA (the joke being No Such Agency) was, literally, an open secret. Everyone knew what that huge complex of listening devices and satellite dishes was just off of the BW Parkway was, even if there were no signs in front of the place in those days. Since most long distance calls in those days were transmitted over the air via microwave tower, it never occurred to me for a moment -- even as a kid -- that the NSA wasn't monitoring long distance phone traffic.

I'm not saying anyone should love the idea, but it amuses me that what Snowden revealed surprises anyone. To call it treason strikes me as naive.

[Brickbat]

1. Love the reference.

[Ernesto]

2. Who's being naive, Kay?

A GREAT line!

[OmahaBlueDog]

3. The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom

Joe Fox: The Godfather is the I-ching. The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom. The Godfather is the answer to any question. What should I pack for my summer vacation? "Leave the gun, take the cannoli." What day of the week is it? "Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday."