[IP] more on Whistleblower outs NSA's secret spy room at AT&T
Begin forwarded message:
From: Gene Spafford <spaf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: May 14, 2006 8:08:41 PM EDT
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: ip@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [IP] more on Whistleblower outs NSA's secret spy room at
AT&T
A traitor is someone who commits treason. Under US law a traitor
would be someone found guilty based on the definition in law of
"Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against
them or adheres to their enemies..." (18 USC 2381).
Someone who, out of a sense of duty to protect the Constitution and
laws of the US, exposes conduct that may be criminal would not meet
that definition. He/she might be guilty of other infractions,
including disclosure of classified information, but unless the intent
was explicitly to aid an enemy of the United States, that is not,
strictly speaking, traitorous.
Anyone with a security clearance, a military commission, or Federal
office swears an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the
United States. If that person observes activity that he/she judges
to be violations of the Constitution committed under color of
authority, then how can the oath be upheld without possibly
disclosing information? Given a choice between upholding the
Constitution or being compliant with orders intended to cover up
violations of law seems to be clear although potentially fraught with
personal danger.
Someone in the role of "whistle-blower" about potential violations of
law might be mistaken and might also eventually be judged
felonious. However, it is also possible that the person is a
patriot in one of the strongest senses of the word -- someone willing
to sacrifice his/her safety in defense of the founding principles of
the country. Courageous is another word I would think applies.
Of course, our elected representatives have also taken that oath, and
the President has taken an oath to enforce all the laws of the
country. As a population, we haven't done very well holding those
people to their oaths of office, and they have shown little respect
for patriotic dissent. When political loyalty and fear trump the
willingness to protect and defend the core principles on which the
country was founded against threats of any kind -- including internal
-- then we have lost something precious and fundamental. What could
be more in the service of our enemies than to quash dissent, demonize
those of good faith who don't agree blindly, and retaliate against
those who commit acts of courage intending to help protect our
freedoms? The irony is quite evident...and painful.
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