Snowden signed a non-disclosure agreement to get the Federal security clearance [View all]

[pnwmom]

that allowed him to work in the jobs he had. This was a non-disclosure agreement between him and the Federal government, that was in effect both when he was employed by the private contractor and when he worked for the government.

Regardless of whether he was justified in the actions he took, it is false to say, as Ellsburg did, that he never took a secrecy oath. That is exactly what his non-disclosure agreement required -- an oath to not disclose the materials to anyone who wasn't cleared to have access to them.

Here's what one looks like:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5070991

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

A security clearance is an official determination that an individual may access information classified by the United States Government. Security clearances are hierarchical; each level grants the holder access to information in that level and the levels below it. The clearance process requires a background investigation and the signing of a nondisclosure agreement. Access to any particular piece of information requires "need-to-know."[8] In some cases, this requirement is only nominal, as some classified information is widely published on secure networks. In other cases, there is a formal need-to-know determination. In addition to such a determination, Special Access Programs and Sensitive Compartmented Information may require additional investigation and adjudication of the prospective clearance holder.