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posted by takyon on Wednesday July 29 2015, @03:16AM   Printer-friendly
from the nice-try dept.

White House spokeswoman and Presidential Advisor on Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco issued a response to the petition that Edward Snowden receive immunity from any laws he may have broken and be allowed to return to the USA as a free man. Her statement reasserted the Administration's position that Snowden is a criminal, running away from the consequences of his actions and should return to the USA to stand trial (and inevitably serve out the rest of his life in solitary confinement).

The full text of the response:

Thanks for signing a petition about Edward Snowden. This is an issue that many Americans feel strongly about. Because his actions have had serious consequences for our national security, we took this matter to Lisa Monaco, the President's Advisor on Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. Here's what she had to say:

Since taking office, President Obama has worked with Congress to secure appropriate reforms that balance the protection of civil liberties with the ability of national security professionals to secure information vital to keep Americans safe.

As the President said in announcing recent intelligence reforms, "We have to make some important decisions about how to protect ourselves and sustain our leadership in the world, while upholding the civil liberties and privacy protections that our ideals and our Constitution require."

Instead of constructively addressing these issues, Mr. Snowden's dangerous decision to steal and disclose classified information had severe consequences for the security of our country and the people who work day in and day out to protect it.

If he felt his actions were consistent with civil disobedience, then he should do what those who have taken issue with their own government do: Challenge it, speak out, engage in a constructive act of protest, and -- importantly -- accept the consequences of his actions. He should come home to the United States, and be judged by a jury of his peers -- not hide behind the cover of an authoritarian regime. Right now, he's running away from the consequences of his actions.

We live in a dangerous world. We continue to face grave security threats like terrorism, cyber-attacks, and nuclear proliferation that our intelligence community must have all the lawful tools it needs to address. The balance between our security and the civil liberties that our ideals and our Constitution require deserves robust debate and those who are willing to engage in it here at home.


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 29 2015, @12:43PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 29 2015, @12:43PM (#215411)

    When all the down mods are troll, flamebait and offtopic, then yes, you fucking braindead dipshit, it is mod abuse and tyranny of the self-righteous.

    Let's look at the responses to his post, which are basically, "you and your opinions, and all those who share them, are ignorant. MY opinions are the one TRUE and RIGHTEOUS thoughts." There are no discussion of his points, just "you are and idiot" responses. Now which posts should be troll and flamebait?Or maybe reading comprehension is not your strong suit.

  • (Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday July 29 2015, @01:12PM

    by Phoenix666 (552) on Wednesday July 29 2015, @01:12PM (#215429) Journal

    So, when people who value their freedom downmod and disagree with people expressing proto- or full-on authoritarian positions, they're merely being self-righteous? OK, you know what? I'll own that. I'm not afraid to be self-righteous in the face of fascism. And I'll go on being self-righteous against lickspittles and totalitarian sycophants until my very last breath.

    May the ranks of the self-righteous swell until the crimes of the NSA and their apologists have been swept from our midst.

    --
    Washington DC delenda est.