The recent leaks by Edward Snowden of American secrets about the NSA has been portrayed by president Obama and his administration as criminal activity for which Snowden must answer. Now, however, comes news that the leak of American secrets about efforts to stop the Iranian nuclear program came directly from the White House. Apparently, these leaks of highly classified national security information were just a public relations effort as part of Obama's re-election campaign.
First, let's look at the facts. According to a report in the Washington Times, the story about the American efforts to damage Iranian nuclear equipment by means of a modified Stuxnet virus was given to the press by high White House officials. Let's be clear about the gravity of this leak. The Stuxnet virus destroyed the large majority of all of the centrifuges working in the Iranian nuclear enrichment program to produce fuel for nuclear weapons. The virus was physically planted in the machines by one or more operatives who obtained access to the Iranian facilities. The leak which told the public that America had been part of an effort to destroy the Iranian centrifuges also told Iranian authorities how the virus was introduced into their systems. What that means is that the spy who actually put the virus in place had his or her cover blown and is likely now dead at the hands of the Iranian secret police.
What Snowden did is clearly illegal. Nevertheless, it is hard to justify any punishment for Snowden, when Obama has folks who are leaking equally important secrets for the president's political gain. It is about time that this sort of nonsense stop!
First, let's look at the facts. According to a report in the Washington Times, the story about the American efforts to damage Iranian nuclear equipment by means of a modified Stuxnet virus was given to the press by high White House officials. Let's be clear about the gravity of this leak. The Stuxnet virus destroyed the large majority of all of the centrifuges working in the Iranian nuclear enrichment program to produce fuel for nuclear weapons. The virus was physically planted in the machines by one or more operatives who obtained access to the Iranian facilities. The leak which told the public that America had been part of an effort to destroy the Iranian centrifuges also told Iranian authorities how the virus was introduced into their systems. What that means is that the spy who actually put the virus in place had his or her cover blown and is likely now dead at the hands of the Iranian secret police.
What Snowden did is clearly illegal. Nevertheless, it is hard to justify any punishment for Snowden, when Obama has folks who are leaking equally important secrets for the president's political gain. It is about time that this sort of nonsense stop!
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