This is another example of how Snowden has compromised national security by leaking secret information that has nothing to do with American metadata and everything to do with the NSA's charter and legal mission.
I think most US citizens would be okay with affording the NSA rights to secrecy if those in the NSA had shown themselves to be exemplary defenders of the US Constitution.
Instead, they have demonstrated themselves as the most formidable opponents to the US Constitution, and more specifically the Bill of Rights. Our national security means nothing if the principles upon which the nation is founded are being debased wholesale. The US without the Constitution is not a nation, since the Constitution is the foundation of the shared history and government of the 330 million people that call themselves Americans.
An NSA that does not respect the Constitution is the greatest existential threat to national security this country has faced. An organization with the capabilities of the NSA with no real oversight can unilaterally subvert even the healthiest democracy.
Of course, neither of us can prove anything either way, but context is necessary before making analyses like yours
How about a shift in your thinking: Instead f "securing" ourselves through trillions in weapons and intel BS - why not work toward creating a better world through better systems and people?
How many Norwegian terrorists have there been?
Fuck the NSA.
Adding more security will make our life less and less secure. Anybody who believes, such things will stop terrorism, is just dreaming.
At least two since 2011.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2467047/Terror-suspe...
If this is true, than releasing this information may be seen in a different context.
I actually think they have mostly done a good job. I think this story, and the previous one on TAO from Der Spiegel, are substantially different to the other stories that have been run from the leaks.
I do think there is an argument that these kind of details weaken security, and it's far, far less clear cut in my mind that the public interest argument outweighs the security argument in this case.
If you believe it does not that isn't a belief I would challenge - but blame the journalists who have made the wrong call, not Snowden. Deciding which 0.1% of the 100,000 documents to leak is their job.
I have a better idea: the US should stop interfering in other countries and violating people's rights - then it wouldn't have enemies.