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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMichael Hayden 'Drifting' Toward Calling Edward Snowden A 'Traitor'
Michael Hayden, former director of the National Security Agency, said Sunday that he used to describe leaker Edward Snowden as a "defector," but is now "drifting in the direction of perhaps more harsh language ... such as 'traitor.'"
"I think there's an English word that describes selling American secrets to another government, and I do think it's treason," Hayden said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
Snowden tore back the curtain on NSA programs that collect phone records en masse, among other things, and his revelations sparked outrage from those who feel the agency is going too far. Two recent federal court rulings have conflicted on whether the NSA surveillance is legal, with one judge calling it "almost Orwellian" and likely unconstitutional, and another determining that it is lawful. Those cases are headed to appeals courts in New York and Washington, and could eventually go to the Supreme Court.
A poll released in late October found that Americans are divided about 50-50 on whether Snowden is "something of a hero who should be commended for letting the public know that our governments are running electronic surveillance programs that threaten peoples privacy" or more of a traitor who should be condemned for publicizing security activities and threatening western intelligence operations."
Some members of Congress have also called Snowden a "traitor" and accused him of an act of treason.
more...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/29/michael-hayden-edward-snowden_n_4515705.html
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)KoKo
(84,711 posts)cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)Vattel
(9,289 posts)So I guess Snowden is in good company.
TheBlackAdder
(28,222 posts)Spoken when the Declaration of Independence was being signed.
truth2power
(8,219 posts)DisgustipatedinCA
(12,530 posts)Golly.
SomethingFishy
(4,876 posts)Isn't this the guy who said that "probable cause" isn't part of the fourth amendment"?
BlueCheese
(2,522 posts)Has anyone claimed that Snowden has sold American secrets to another government? I don't think there are any allegations that he has personally benefited financially, and the only people he's given documents to have been journalists.
ljm2002
(10,751 posts)...there has never been any credible claim that Snowden sold American secrets to another government.
In other words, Hayden is... wait for it... LYING.
treestar
(82,383 posts)"traitor" is an exaggeration. But if he really did pass secrets on to Russia or China, that could conceivably be treason, but the two overt witnesses might never be available. Might be impossible to charge. Which is why it's rare. Haven't heard of a treason charge in the news in my lifetime.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)Purveyor
(29,876 posts)Happy New Year!