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Rise of the idealistic nerd | Rise of the idealistic nerd |
(5 days later) | |
US President Barack Obama says he welcomes a debate about the right balance between privacy and security. That is good, because it will rage for a long while. | US President Barack Obama says he welcomes a debate about the right balance between privacy and security. That is good, because it will rage for a long while. |
I suspect many in his administration are not quite so pleased about this public airing of secrets, but there is nothing now that can put the genie back in the bottle. | I suspect many in his administration are not quite so pleased about this public airing of secrets, but there is nothing now that can put the genie back in the bottle. |
It is not only the raw debate that will grow. So will the argument about whether the people behind the leaks are heroes or villains. | It is not only the raw debate that will grow. So will the argument about whether the people behind the leaks are heroes or villains. |
It strikes me that the revelations made by ex-CIA employee Edward Snowden are of a piece with those of US soldier Bradley Manning when he gave a vast stash of US documents to the website Wikileaks. | It strikes me that the revelations made by ex-CIA employee Edward Snowden are of a piece with those of US soldier Bradley Manning when he gave a vast stash of US documents to the website Wikileaks. |
Neither are leaks in the old sense - of a single, sensational story about a particularly scandalous operation. | Neither are leaks in the old sense - of a single, sensational story about a particularly scandalous operation. |
Instead they are, at heart, about the breadth and depth of intelligence gathering and how the internet changes spying itself. | Instead they are, at heart, about the breadth and depth of intelligence gathering and how the internet changes spying itself. |
It is also about two young men who were horrified by what they saw going on and decided to expose it - in the words of my colleague, Paul Adams, "the rise of the idealistic nerd". | |
It is probable that as the technology changed, intelligence services had to hugely increase the number of fairly low-level experts they employ. | It is probable that as the technology changed, intelligence services had to hugely increase the number of fairly low-level experts they employ. |
Possibly, their background checks were less rigorous than in the past. Maybe the type of person recruited was more committed to a technology that has gone hand in hand with a vaguely libertarian ethos than a commitment to national security, whatever the implications for privacy and freedom. | Possibly, their background checks were less rigorous than in the past. Maybe the type of person recruited was more committed to a technology that has gone hand in hand with a vaguely libertarian ethos than a commitment to national security, whatever the implications for privacy and freedom. |
It is not certain how this will play for Mr Obama, but it does not look great. | It is not certain how this will play for Mr Obama, but it does not look great. |
It is true that it runs against the right's narrative: "Obama is weak on national security." | It is true that it runs against the right's narrative: "Obama is weak on national security." |
Once again, as with drones, he has shown himself to be rather ruthless with the niceties. | Once again, as with drones, he has shown himself to be rather ruthless with the niceties. |
On the other hand, it plays right in to the hands of another conservative narrative: "President Obama expands the power of the state." | On the other hand, it plays right in to the hands of another conservative narrative: "President Obama expands the power of the state." |
Given that it comes on top of the tax scandal at the Internal Revenue Service, and the raid on the Associated Press, it builds up a picture of an administration that plays fast and lose with civil liberties. | Given that it comes on top of the tax scandal at the Internal Revenue Service, and the raid on the Associated Press, it builds up a picture of an administration that plays fast and lose with civil liberties. |
This resonates with the president's own natural supporters as well, and those on the left who feel "he is just as bad as former President George W Bush". | This resonates with the president's own natural supporters as well, and those on the left who feel "he is just as bad as former President George W Bush". |
It adds to the general feeling of cynicism about politicians and suspicion of the power of the state. | It adds to the general feeling of cynicism about politicians and suspicion of the power of the state. |
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