Comment Re:Of course. (Score 5, Insightful) 749
At this point, this is not an issue of a lawbreaker. Until he's charged with something in a free and open court, Snowden is not a criminal.
An Australian general, addressing issues with sexual harassment in the military, had this to say about the values of an organization in a recent video:
"The standard you walk past is the standard you accept."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QaqpoeVgr8U
This is a little more apropos for the situation. Someone saw something he felt was unconscionable and acted to try and correct it. This is in keeping with the highest values of ethical conduct, and most ethical scholars would agree people have an obligation to act in this way.
We will see what Snowden is ultimately charged with. But casting him as a criminal before he is charged with anything, and rushing to judgement about his guilt or innocence, shows a lot less respect for the legal process and rule of law than anything he has done.