General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I/m so tired of reading criticism of Obama on DU [View all]Savannahmann
(3,891 posts)People who had read the PATRIOT ACT, and would talk about the kinds of surveillance we suspected was going on based upon the technology, and the tech centers being built, were dismissed as Conspiracy Theory nuts.
When the revelations first started coming out, the naysayers were claiming it was made up, or this is my favorite. Old news since the Conspiracy Theory types they had denounced had already told us about it.
Edward Snowden did a great thing, bringing all of this kicking and screaming into the light. Somewhere in Moscow, there is a CIA assassin waiting for the go-ahead to end the life of the horrid little traitor. But what did Snowden really do?
He took away the first and second line of defense. He took away the "It's just conspiracy theory crap." defense. He took away the "It's for the good of the country to protect us" defense since NONE of the programs have prevented one terrorist attack. The success of the programs appears to be that the Terrorists who hope to attack us are inept (Shoe bomber and underpants bomber) or coaxed into being terrorists just so the FBI informant can make his quota.
Now, does that make him a hero? It depends on your point of view. If your point of view is that the first step in dismantling the MIC is raising awareness then yes, he is a hero. He was the first to offer proof that the Emperor had no clothes. His wise decision not to surrender into the black hole of prison/detainment/lawyers/government statements meant that the Government could not declare that no interviews were possible since he was held in solitary confinement in the ultra secure section of the prison ala Manning.
His very well thought out decision to work with established reporters at more than one news organization meant that the normal competitive impulses of the press would make sure that someone told the story. The President could lean on the NY Times to get them to hold the story, but if they agreed, it was knowing that the Guardian would break the story anyway. Bloody Brilliant. When those organizations were leaned on, German, Russian, and Brazilian took up the slack making the pressure useless.
One of the things I always try to do is get people to think several steps ahead. In other words, if you win this argument using that position, where does that leave you? Like a pool player, it's not enough to sink the ball, you have to leave the ball where it sets you up for the next shot.
Snowden has demonstrated the wisdom of that better than anyone in Washington. We see them run around from issue to issue using the talking point of the day, but never considering where the end result should be, or will be.
Take the information, leave the country, stay where the American reach is muted, which pretty much is either communist, socialist, or former Soviet states. Places where they have sufficient power to limit the revenge of the American rage. How awesome is that rage? It's awesome enough that the President of Bolivia was forced to land and submit to an inspection to make sure that the evil Snowden was not on board.
Snowden may be a Douche, and he may be an attention seeking little twit. But he did this smart, and he did something that stripped away the veil of denial and secrecy and brought the continuance of immoral practice into the light. For that, we owe him thanks. We should also enjoy the ride and know that every day he is free of American custody, and torture, is a good day for those of us who think that Civil Rights are the most important guarantee from the Constitution.