>Personally, I must say that my perspective is that the United States owes its citizens security. The people in power will do what they consider best for the people of the nation. If we did nothing and we had another 9/11 or similar episode, there would be those persons demanding that the United States should have taken action to have prevented a disaster. You are not going to win.
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>The nation would be remiss if it did nothing to protect itself. Should Mr. Snowden decide to reside in Venezuela, I hope that he brings his own toilet paper.
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>As we are breathing air at this moment there are Russian nuclear submarines off the coast of California ready to launch. Many other threats surround us 24 hours a day. It is all such fun. My tour in the Air Force Security Service taught me that there is no such thing as security. Someone is always trying to get to you. You might be successful trying to stop such attempts but that cannot always be the case.
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>Should we give up all attempts at national security to please the ignorant? Yes, they demand! Well then by all means open the gates and let the fun begin.

I stand with you on this issue, Airman Whiteley.

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>>>Snowden statement:
>>>http://wikileaks.org/Statement-by-Edward-Snowden-to.html
>>>
>>>"... The immoral cannot be made moral through the use of secret law.
>>>
>>>"I believe in the principle declared at Nuremberg in 1945: 'Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience. Therefore individual citizens have the duty to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring.'"
>>
>>
>>Snowden nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for " Heroic effort at great personal cost."
>> http://rt.com/news/snowden-nominated-nobel-peace-099/
>>
>>It's interesting to note that in other nations the talk is about the NSA spying, and the harm to humanity. In the U.S. it's about Snowden the man, not the illegal acts by men and women of government organizations.