Traitor is a matter of perspective. George Washington and the others who fought to make this country were considered traitors to the crown, we hardly see them that way. While Benedict Arnold is considered a traitor to America, but welcomed in England for what he did, yea he did it for selfish reasons whatever.
The men who took part in Valkyrie toward the end of the war, to get rid of Hitler and try to save their country were all hung or shot as traitors. Yes technically they were traitors but to a completely corrupt system. There was no way to bring about such change thru legal channels. But by some peoples definition on here they should have just sat back and followed orders.
I saw people on the news saying there are channels Snowden could have used to do this the right way. Does anybody here really believe he could have gone up the chain of command to find somebody to say something to? No we all know the system is so corrupted thats not really possible. Even senators are complaining when they are briefed they have no real recourse to say anything as its 'classified'. I guess Nixon could have just classified everything and stayed president.
As someone pointed out so many on here rail against the system, yet when somebody steps forward risking their freedom to do something they are a traitor to that system. I have family who hate Obama with every fiber of their being, yet now think we should move heaven and earth to capture this man. Who exactly gave the US government the right to say well the other 97% of the world has no rights, we can spy on them at will. And now that thats okay, might as well make it an even 100%, its for the common good right. I really seriously doubt that the founding fathers would agree. I don't remember giving up the 4th amendment when I signed up for the military.
And look at the lengths our government is willing to go to get this guy. I doubt the European nations who made all the problems for that presidential flight did so on their own. What would they have done had Snowden been on that plane? I really doubt the secret service would let China 'inspect' air force one because somebody they didn't like might be on board. It aint different because we do it.
