Quote:I lean more towards hero than traitor, the stuff he exposed is serious. If no one ever exposes it how do you even begin to resist it?

 

The problem is that the general public doesn't know how much was exposed and to whom.  All that we know is what he gave to the media.  What did he give to the Chinese and the Russians?  That part is not made public.

 

Speaking from a more technical point of view, he not only had the data that he stole, he also has knowledge about the computer network(s) that hold this data.  That knowledge alone is pretty valuable in the hands of people that may want to spy on us.

 

Also, plain and simple he knowingly and willfully broke the law by accessing and stealing data that he did not have a NEED TO KNOW.  Are we a nation of laws or are we a "nation of laws except"?  People entrusted with a security clearance have certain protocol that must be followed.  There are other ways that he could have been a "whistle blower" without compromising classified information.

 

Bottom line, he is a traitor and should face the charges.

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