Is Snowden a traitor?

2013

Treason is serious business, so serious that in the history of the United States, very few people have been accused and convicted of treason.

Probably the most liberal aspect of treason under the Constitution is “giving them aid and comfort” (the enemy). From my perspective that would include Jane Fonda during the Vietnam War and would also include Edward Snowden today.

No doubt there are those who see his acts as meritorious, uncovering secret internal spying and all that, but it seems to me that is an excuse. You can be a whistle blower when necessary and not compromise the security and international standing of your Country while at the same time giving comfort to those nations and individuals wanting nothing better than to gain more insight into surveillance processes and to embarrass the United States.

But all this is understandable because we are desensitized through the routine working of the press. How many times have you heard on a news report, “according to sources close to the situation who do not want to be identified” or “on condition of anonymity” so and so said? Or perhaps, “based on information from a person not authorized to speak?” We think nothing of all this, the reporters are just doing their job and yet, these individuals are violating confidentiality; saying things they were asked not to say, leaking information they were asked or told not to leak; they were betraying a confidence in many cases. All this on a daily basis and we are worried about our privacy? When it is not okay to break a confidence?

Like you, I want to know what our government may be doing that is illegal, but I also want a system for learning that, a system that does not compromise, embarrass or otherwise lower the standing of our Nation.

Snowden may not be a traitor under the Constitution, but for my money he is the essence of 1, 2 and 3 below, and the longer he continues his world hopping from one country to another that would like to see more trouble for the U.S., he supports my conclusion.

Of course many in the main stream media will support Snowden’s actions, after all they get their information to make a living from the people “not authorized to speak” or those saying what they know they should not be saying, often for their personal gain in some fashion.

“Treason” the dictionary definition:

Noun

1. high treason, lese majesty — a crime that undermines the offender’s government

2. subversiveness, traitorousness — disloyalty by virtue of subversive behavior

3. treachery, betrayal, perfidy — an act of deliberate betrayal

Treason under the US Constitution:

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.