Edward Snowden broke the law: Opposing view

Steven Bucci

Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning have a lot in common.

Each one signed oaths of confidentiality and agreements to serve. Each received some of the highest security clearances the nation can give for the handling of secrets that aid in securing the American people from those who would harm them. And each decided he is the ultimate arbiter of what is right and wrong with America's policies.

Neither man had been asked to shed his blood (Manning was safe in a secured headquarters facility; Snowden was in Hawaii), but they apparently felt they had a mission that would allow them to enjoy the status of martyrs.

Some have said that because Snowden was a contractor, he shouldn't have had access to such confidential information. But the obligation for contract employees to deal properly with classified material is the same as for government employees.

Individuals don't get to decide for themselves what should be classified. If an individual knowingly has given classified material to unauthorized person, it's a grave breach of trust and law.

The U.S. system regularly shares classified information with contract employees. Failures like this are a rare occurrence. Contractors, when used prudently with appropriate oversight, are an invaluable part of our military and security capability. Efficiently tapping the private sector for national security can be an enormous competitive advantage for the U.S.

We have to separate the leak, which is simply wrong, from concerns over the program itself. Surveillance for threats can be done legally. The conflating of multiple programs and the inaccurate description of some of these programs makes it is impossible to tell from news reports and government talking points alone if the program was administered properly. That process will now begin.

That said, individuals who suspect wrongdoing in government have legitimate options to bring this to the attention of responsible individuals in government and Congress without breaking the law.

Mr. Snowden decided it was fine to break the law, and he should be called to account for it. These leaks never occur without repercussions. One hopes that any damage to the nation's security does not cause loss of life. Some Americans may lionize Snowden, but there are terrorists who surely do.

Steven Bucci, a deputy assistant secretary of defense during the George W. Bush administration, is director of the Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation.