It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
I’ll have to assume that Snowden is on this fit of self-righteous arrogance because he thinks there is something wrong with what he’s seen of United States surveillance in other countries. But to decide that standard espionage activities are improper is a foolish, ahistorical belief.
N.S.A. surveillance has been beneficial repeatedly in American foreign policy. Although most instances remain secret, we already know that the N.S.A. listened to Soviet pilots during the 1983 shooting down of a South Korean airliner; used intercepted diplomatic messages to track a 1986 Berlin disco bombing to Libya; and used the cell phones’ SIM cards to track terrorist suspects after the 9/11 attacks.
But let’s take a more important example. In 1937—at a time when the United States was declaring neutrality in the emerging global tensions that fueled World War II—the Japanese government created a cipher for its military messages using a device called the “97-shiki O-bun In-ji-ki.” The Americans code-named it “Purple.”
The United States military was able to intercept Japanese communications (the very reason that Tokyo needed a code) but couldn’t decrypt the information sent through the Purple machine. William Friedman, the first American cryptography expert who tried to break the code, made some progress before suffering a nervous breakdown. Using that initial information, others managed to break more of the code. Once cracked, the United States could track Japanese naval-troop movements and even intercepted communications containing plans for the Pearl Harbor attack—information that was not properly used.
Would Snowden have been outraged that the United States was intercepting Japanese data at a time when the countries were not at war? It took years to crack the Purple code—would Snowden think the United States should have waited until after Pearl Harbor to tap into Japanese communication lines, and only then begin the arduous effort to break the code? And if not, then what is his point in turning over these kinds of secrets to the Chinese? All I have to say is, thank God Snowden was not around in 1937, four years before the United States joined the war—Lord knows how many Americans would have died if he had acted with whatever arrogance, or self-righteousness, or narcissism, or pure treasonous beliefs that drove him to his espionage on behalf of the Chinese.
Originally posted by beezzer
reply to post by sonnny1
I think our biggest problem is that we are letting the MSM colour our perceptions of Snowden.
And the MSM almost uniformly has condemned Snowden right along with the government.
Here are the facts;
Our government is spying on us.
Our government is collecting a massive database on all of us.
Our government is violating our privacy.
Our government is violating our Constitutional rights.
Our government has justified its breaking of the law.
Our government is creating the talking points about Snowden to distract us from all of the above.
Snowden thinks 'spying' is bad and yet takes a job at a spy agency
Originally posted by sonnny1
Alright folks. I know many on ATS believe Snowden is a Hero. Some might even view him as a Martyr to the cause..
Personally, I believe this man has done what he thought was best for his Country. That being said, I found this article that really makes one think about Edward Snowden. I found myself agreeing with some of this mans points. I don't know exactly what our Governments plan is for him, but I do know they want to make an example out of him.
Its highly hypocritical of what our Government is doing, if you ask me, but lets get to the gist of the article.
Snowden's presumed Arrogance.
I’ll have to assume that Snowden is on this fit of self-righteous arrogance because he thinks there is something wrong with what he’s seen of United States surveillance in other countries. But to decide that standard espionage activities are improper is a foolish, ahistorical belief.
Heres where it gets interesting. The Author decides to use history as to show "WHY" espionage is beneficial.
(Lets not mix up spying on Americans, as beneficial)
N.S.A. surveillance has been beneficial repeatedly in American foreign policy. Although most instances remain secret, we already know that the N.S.A. listened to Soviet pilots during the 1983 shooting down of a South Korean airliner; used intercepted diplomatic messages to track a 1986 Berlin disco bombing to Libya; and used the cell phones’ SIM cards to track terrorist suspects after the 9/11 attacks.
And......
But let’s take a more important example. In 1937—at a time when the United States was declaring neutrality in the emerging global tensions that fueled World War II—the Japanese government created a cipher for its military messages using a device called the “97-shiki O-bun In-ji-ki.” The Americans code-named it “Purple.”
The United States military was able to intercept Japanese communications (the very reason that Tokyo needed a code) but couldn’t decrypt the information sent through the Purple machine. William Friedman, the first American cryptography expert who tried to break the code, made some progress before suffering a nervous breakdown. Using that initial information, others managed to break more of the code. Once cracked, the United States could track Japanese naval-troop movements and even intercepted communications containing plans for the Pearl Harbor attack—information that was not properly used.
Would Snowden have been outraged that the United States was intercepting Japanese data at a time when the countries were not at war? It took years to crack the Purple code—would Snowden think the United States should have waited until after Pearl Harbor to tap into Japanese communication lines, and only then begin the arduous effort to break the code? And if not, then what is his point in turning over these kinds of secrets to the Chinese? All I have to say is, thank God Snowden was not around in 1937, four years before the United States joined the war—Lord knows how many Americans would have died if he had acted with whatever arrogance, or self-righteousness, or narcissism, or pure treasonous beliefs that drove him to his espionage on behalf of the Chinese.
So, lets not flame me folks, as I'm just providing a article that I found to be very interesting, in interesting times.
ATS, Thoughts?
Originally posted by StrangeTimez
reply to post by beezzer
But in reality I ask myself several times a day, What do we do? Its super late (early) here but after I get some sleep Im going to make a post about that if one isnt made already. Because I dont know what to do. But I refuse to do nothing. Just have to figure it out.
Most people with a modicum of common sense would agree that we need these agencies to effectively gather intelligence against other powers, discover military plans and secrets, and to then work to successfully counter them.
gather intelligence against other powers
discover military plans and secrets
Espionage or spying involves a government or individual obtaining information considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, as it is taken for granted that it is unwelcome and, in many cases illegal and punishable by law