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.
Originally posted by wrabbit2000
There was absolutely nothing wrong with revealing corruption. That worked great. Now when Snowden shared enough with Russia to see their people in Moscow literally go to typewriters in some of their security service offices and China, start changing hardware switches and routers throughout their network? That isn't corruption. Frankly, it's espionage and treason. They don't have to be declared enemies for that to apply.
If only...he'd kept to releasing what the US was doing IN the US and TO Americans. Now THAT was illegal. THAT had laws the world recognizes to prohibit it. The rest he's blown? He's blown ONE side's capability while actually HELPING the other side defend and build more against it. That does direct harm to the United States.
First of all there's no evidence that what Snowden had was shared with either the Russians or the Chinese. We can suspect it all we want (and I'll throw out that the idea was put forth and pushed by those most opposed to him), it has been denied by both Russia, China, Snowden, Wikileaks, and Greenwald. Next I'm going to show why it's unlikely.
First of all a Chinese leak is unlikely because Taiwan isn't mainland China, they do things different. Letting Snowden flee rather than apprehend him for example is something Taiwan would do but not China. China is after China's own interests, Taiwan very much wants to be part of the mainstream western world and that means standing up for those values.
Originally posted by wrabbit2000
reply to post by EarthCitizen07
Do me a favor and please link or cite these protocols they have to follow? What restrictions are the media under by order of the executive or legislative branches?
To say they are pressured is one thing. To suggest they have formal protocols to follow moves it from encroachment of Government by undue pressure on a free press to outright, black and white 1st amendment violation that is so court actionable, the ACLU must have a half dozen cases in the pipeline as we speak.
I've just not seen these formal protocols the free press is required to adhere to? Justice did show them there were unwritten ones....but even that wasn't discovered until recent months. Bush knew better than to directly go to war with the media. For all the slamming, hate and general Bush bashing like it's baseball or something...he wasn't a total idiot as some are today. Today, Holder and others are at open war with the 4th Estate ..yet still.. formal protocols outside the basic federal law EVERY citizen is held to on dissemination of classified material?
* if anyone doubts that 'EVERY" citizen part and figures those laws we've always had are just media? Go deep web digging some day and come back up here with a classified bone to be the first to share openly ... See if it takes 1 day or 2 for the knock-knock to come and it ain't a joke being delivered.
Originally posted by wrabbit2000
Snowden sat in Moscow, initially telling the world about how the NSA, in detail, violates the security of other nations. At about this same time, reports out of Russia indicated their Security services went stone age on everyone and threw out their word processors for type writers. I see a man holding a hammer. I see a hole. The hole wasn't there before the man with the hammer came to stand there. I'm also no serving in a Jury and under the rules of courtroom evidence.
Okay, he wasn't in Taiwan. He was in Hong Kong. Hong Kong IS a direct possession of Mainland China since the handoff from the British at the turn of the century. They keep it loose so as not to kill the golden goose aspect in a "Special Administrative Zone"...but make NO mistake. Hong Kong is Chinese soil if there are any questions to ask authority on the matter. Again.... While he HAPPENED to be there, explaining across headlines about how Chinese private sector had been hacked (and the Chinese Government was PUBLICLY upset about that very leak from him) the routers and networking hardware was seen to change across areas of China...as if by magic.
If Snowden has shared all he knew or even GOOD stuff? I sure missed it and I'd call the NSA one of the lesser and more boring areas of Government. The hacking center was interesting, but already known without a specific name after the Stuxnet leaks by the White House indicated who did that dirty deed. Maybe scale was a new bt to learn...but the fact it happened wasn't. The overall monitoring? Reach echelon articles from the 90's. He could have been reading one, word for word in some of what he "leaked".
A non-disclosure agreement (NDA), also known as a confidentiality agreement (CA), confidential disclosure agreement (CDA), proprietary information agreement (PIA), or secrecy agreement, is a legal contract between at least two parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties wish to share with one another for certain purposes, but wish to restrict access to or by third parties. It's a contract through which the parties agree not to disclose information covered by the agreement. An NDA creates a confidential relationship between the parties to protect any type of confidential and proprietary information or trade secrets. As such, an NDA protects nonpublic business information.
NDAs are commonly signed when two companies, individuals, or other entities (such as partnerships, societies, etc.) are considering doing business and need to understand the processes used in each other's business for the purpose of evaluating the potential business relationship. NDAs can be "mutual", meaning both parties are restricted in their use of the materials provided, or they can restrict the use of material by a single party.
It is also possible for an employee to sign an NDA or NDA-like agreement with an employer. In fact, some employment agreements will include a clause restricting employees' use and dissemination of company-owned "confidential information."
Originally posted by wrabbit2000
reply to post by Aazadan
.
Okay, he wasn't in Taiwan. He was in Hong Kong. Hong Kong IS a direct possession of Mainland China since the handoff from the British at the turn of the century. They keep it loose so as not to kill the golden goose aspect in a "Special Administrative Zone"...but make NO mistake. Hong Kong is Chinese soil if there are any questions to ask authority on the matter. Again.... While he HAPPENED to be there, explaining across headlines about how Chinese private sector had been hacked (and the Chinese Government was PUBLICLY upset about that very leak from him) the routers and networking hardware was seen to change across areas of China...as if by magic.
How much would you like to bet the NSA's access to Chinese intelligence ended in many ways when that hardware got swapped and switched? Man standing with a hammer. New hole in wall. It doesn't take a pic to prove that one.
As far as sharing more? It's not happening...Russia has said in public, at least, it won't happen and personally? I'll believe it when I see it.
I'm starting to seriously wonder if Snowden REALLY had an attack of conscience or if Russia didn't just pull one of the greatest intelligence coups in history. Run a sleeper agent and then extract them so skillfully, even the nation the agent worked against has no clue it got played all along. It's reading like DEFECTION...not asylum. This reeks of the regular games the two nations played before the wall came down. It's just new for modern audiences.
edit on 20-8-2013 by wrabbit2000 because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by Malynn
As much as I wanted to support Rand Paul I watched him defend for-profit healthcare with a straight face on Jon Stewart, er, the Daily Show (with John Oliver at the moment) the other day. I got so nauseous. I know Ron would defend for-profit healthcare as well but it somehow seems more annoying coming from Rand. It's this giant Elephant in the room. The US is literally the only western nation in the world with barbarism disguised as healthcare and no one talks about it, unless they're telling you to keep your pinko commie socialist ideas to yourself and to keep your hands off the money of big pharma. Because god knows the world won't revolve unless people are getting mega rich off the misfortune of others.edit on 8/19/13 by Malynn because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by thoughtfuldeliquent
I'm curious, how does Hillary Clinton have support? Everything I've seen of her scares the # out of me. Good luck America. Here in Australia we have our election coming up, and there's a choice between big gov or big gov (given the liberals last 4-5 years in power, which was Howard, who raised public sector revenue and added many public jobs). I guess we could vote wikileaks into senate and hope they blocked anything stupid that the house comes out with. Other then that, it's just a massive gamble.
Originally posted by EarthCitizen07
Originally posted by eLPresidente
Originally posted by EarthCitizen07
Ron [and Rand Paul] seem like traditional conservatives that are against the globalist agenda, not really libertarians.
Did you really just say that? Ron Paul is the godfather of the modern libertarian movement, how the hell is he not really a libertarian? He believes in MINIMALIST government, only enough to protect life, liberty, and property...he believes in abolishing most of government entities outside of the few main constitutional functions. He believes in states rights, he believes in personal and economic freedom. Rand labels himself a libertarian conservative, small l big C...that much we already know although I personally believe he is closer to his father than he leads everybody to believe. The only reason why he is so popular today is because he has worded the message in such a way that mainstream conservatives can accept it without getting defensive.
It reminds me of gary johnson talking about legalising "soft drugs" and people just staring at him in disbelief. Libertarians tend to be socially liberal and financially conservative. Traditional conservatives dont want to hear anything liberal at all.
Ron Paul is for a relatively small government but I dont view him as libertarian as such. I dont think he is socially liberal like gary johnson. BTW gary johnson was the republican governor of new mexico and then decided to run with the libertarian party and got .99% of the total vote.
We are arguing semantics but at this point its important imo.edit on 20/8/13 by EarthCitizen07 because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by EarthCitizen07
[there is no way to access classified information without the proper clearance and need to know. that means we need insiders to whistleblow stuff. some times they might leave doors open but they are traps and I caution people to not take the bait.
Originally posted by smurfy
Originally posted by EarthCitizen07
[there is no way to access classified information without the proper clearance and need to know. that means we need insiders to whistleblow stuff. some times they might leave doors open but they are traps and I caution people to not take the bait.
If the doors are open, they are open by virtue of the internet, and in the public domain. But we stray too far from the OP. Ron Paul is a man with ethics and intelligent ones with that, real ethics not the virtual world, you need not agree with all of those ethics, not to be confused with dogma.