Russian climates are known the world over as some of the most disparate extremes. Before another winter is upon him, Edward Snowden may have somewhere new to reside in the following months. Protection from U.S. extradition is the key Snowden has long waited for inside Putin’s Kremlin. And Snowden may be spending the impending winter in the EU.
The EU has voted in favor of giving Snowden asylum and protection from U.S. extradition, a move that was both barely passed and long overdue. Fear of U.S. punishment has kept Snowden cooped up in Moscow. His banishment there has only served as giving the Russians something to smirk about. Snowden was a public servant whose upstanding morals should be encouraged in public occupations. He has joined the ranks of Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, which led to revelations the world over on questionable or outright illegal conduct by the U.S. government. Snowden has been sheltered by a country that is as transparent as lead, a disappointing irony that has only given the Kremlin something to gloat over.
The law is very clear in regards to traitorous acts. But laws aren’t the only way a society dictates punishment, especially if the laws in place may be unjust. There are other factors to take into account — cause, effect, intent, and moral justifications to name a few. It is unfortunate to see Snowden as an expatriate, because his actions were patriotic, if the patriot is one who does not blindly follow the government but cares for the nation’s citizens.
Snowden’s info dumps revealed a great deal to both the U.S. public and the international community. The level of espionage the United States conducts on allies is absurd. The revelations, more than anything else, point to the United States’ antiquated system of covert operations. The world is a more connected place than ever before; fostering trust, not abusing it, should be the aim. The power of one nation is heavily dependent on the well-being of many others. It’s a system achieved through economics and war, and an absolute dream come true for such presidents as Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Leaders who witnessed the depravity and suffering modern warfare creates seem to be particularly averse to the perpetuation of such conflicts. Trust is an integral part of the international community, and burning bridges can lead to resentment and distrust.
The political sway the United States has over the world is evident in the amount of time it took for the EU to offer protection for Snowden. It also highlights the lack of power the United States has in Russia, where the situation has been a hugely political point for Vladimir Putin’s regime. To have a champion of government transparency and responsibility given a sanctuary in Russia is a level of irony akin to a “Saturday Night Live” sketch.
Government responsibility for its actions is essential to the existence of a government not formed on tyranny. “No taxation without representation” sounds better than “no spying on my phone without civilian oversight within the massive and notoriously corrupt U.S. intelligence agencies,” but is equally important.
The Daily Iowan Editorial Board believes a government has responsibilities to the rights and liberties of its citizens and that Snowden revealed a severe disregard of these responsibilities. With the Wikileaks revelations in the past, and no tangible evidence that the leaks caused any damage to the U.S. military, Snowden deserves asylum in Europe. He deserves freedom here, for being exactly what public servants should strive to be — crusaders against the tyranny of unchecked government.