by @anarchyroll
11/7/2013
“Citizens have to fight against the suppression of information about affairs of essential importance for the public,” he wrote. “Those who speak the truth are not committing a crime.” Edward Snowden from “A Manifesto for the Truth” in German newspaper Der Spiegel published at the same time President Barack Obama denied the NSA whistleblower’s appeal for clemency.
This despite acknowledgement from both houses of the legislative branch and the executive branch of the United States government that his revelations have brought about a necessary dialogue and policy revision(s). Legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives to peel back and/or halt the massive data collection of the National Security Agency. The author of the Patriot Act that enabled the NSA metadata collection addiction has called for a re write to halt current and prevent future massive data trove collection. Does this sound like change brought about by a traitor denied clemency?
If Snowden brought about these healthy democratic changes, why would he be denied clemency? Is it because he “stole” digital government documents? Daniel Ellsberg isn’t living abroad, disallowed from entering the continental United States. Is it because of his whistle blowing? Or is it perhaps because the presidents or prime ministers of Brazil, Germany, Mexico, and Spain have accused the United States and the NSA of assaulting each country’s sovereignty with their massive metadata collection. Or in the case of Germany, tapping into the phone of Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Ask yourself, is Edward Snowden being denied clemency because he did something wrong? Or is he being denied clemency for causing international blowback for the United States government. Is he being denied clemency for making it harder for the United States to secretly break international laws and Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution? If he did something so wrong, why is another member of the United Nations and G8 willing to grant him asylum?
Anarchy Journal Constitutional 