Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Snowden Sends Letter to Brazil Asking for Asylum; Says in Return, He'll Inform Brazil of US Spying

Edward Snowden -- who was granted political asylum in Russia until next summer after he revealed secret and illegal NSA (National Security Agency) spying operations -- has written "an open letter to the people of Brazil" offering to help Brazil's government investigate allegations of U.S. spying, but on the condition that he be granted permanent political asylum, the USA Today website reports today (December 17, 2013).

"I've expressed my willingness to assist where it's appropriate and legal, but, unfortunately, the U.S. government has been working hard to limit my ability to do so," his letter says.

"Until a country grants me permanent political asylum, the U.S. government will continue to interfere with my ability to speak out," Snowden writes in the letter. He adds that, "Many Brazilian senators agree and asked me to help their investigations into suspected crimes against Brazilian citizens."

Snowden said that he felt vindicated by a federal judge's ruling yesterday that the collection of data by the NSA was most likely unconstitutional. What Snowden fails to indicate, however, is that he took a federal government oath in which he pledged never to reveal any U.S. classified information to anyone without a need to know -- and he has violated that oath. Conclusion: Two wrongs don't make a right.

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