THOUGHT OF THE DAY
THE CASE OF EDWARD SNOWDEN

Does the US Government have the legal or moral authority to secretly conduct a worldwide invasion of privacy in the name of national security?  Mr Edward Snowden thinks not and bravely sticks his neck out.  How should we think and what should we do?

Is Mr Snowdon right to release classified secret Government documents to support his exposé?

Obviously, the US Government is wrong to spy on its own citizens if it is against its Constitution.  Wholesale and indiscriminate spying on other individuals living outside the USA is also unacceptable because they are not under US jurisdiction.  That's the legal position.  However, if Obama were to claim that he is using all available means to safeguard his country against threats of terrorism, then it would be hard to deny him his right to self-defense.  But, in this case, spying should be more targeted and not applied so widely and randomly.

Mr Snowdon is also wrong because he betrayed the trust of his Government by releasing secret classified documents to the world public without permission. If his conscience does not allow him to carry out his work, he should resign from his post.  Subsequently, he can take up the cause against the abuse of spying services in his personal capacity, but without using any of the privileged information that he was entitled when he was contracted to the US Defence Dept.