Greenwald’s Outrage Sandwich: NSA Analysts Can Analyze NSA Intelligence

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80. Technically and actually, no

Revere asked that a light or lights be hung from a church steeple to warn of the movement of British (Regular) Troops - you know "1 if by land or 2 if by sea"? He then tried to do what was asked of him, which was spread the word and get it to Concord. He managed to spread the word but failed to get it to Concord himself; that was done by others. Only to the most deluded mind would an act of reconnaissance be considered "whistle blowing" against, or betrayal of, the British Crown. Indeed the British did not regard Paul Revere as a traitor because they released him after that night.

Revere regarded his government as being the Continental Congress.

Now compare to Mr Snowden who performed acts of espionage against the legally constituted government of the USA; he was not acting in the service of an alternative government in rebellion to this legally constituted government. What is more he sought protection from the consequences his spying by publicising what has been long available information about government programs that watch the actions of US citizens.