Hacker News Reader

Comment by wildmusings | Hacker News Reader

Snowden blew any chance of this when he leaked tons of data about totally legitimate foreign intelligence activities, not just domestic spying. Regardless of whether you think leaking the domestic spying programs was justified, his leaks about our activities overseas are unforgivable.

View on HN

As someone who lives overseas, I'll happily forgive him. I imagine I'm not alone in this.

His responsibility wasn't to your interests. If your interests conflict with America's interests, then yours lose out in the decisions that the United States makes. Just as if my interests as an American conflict with your government's interests, mine will lose out in their decisions.

Not everyone segments responsibility to only their own country. He did humanity a service. He certainly did not have a responsibility to intentionally withhold evidence of US surveillance in other countries. I believe he had a moral imperative to reveal that information.

When you have a government job and are entrusted with a security clearance, your country's interests must be your only concern. The people are entrusting you with their interests.

your country's interests must be your only concern

And his country's interests were his concern. What he had a problem with was his government's interests.

Nothing is unforgiveable. Not even failing to defend the country on 9-11.

totally legitimate

Nope.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com