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by michaelt 4688 days ago
1.4 million Americans have 'TS/SCI' clearance, but only Manning and Snowdon felt inclined to suffer the consequences of speaking out of principle.

I think it's easy to imagine you would speak out when you don't have access to anything secret - but when it's you and your family that will be put at risk I can understand the disincentives looming large.
3 comments
nakedrobot2 4688 days ago
It's also quite telling that neither Manning nor Snowden have a young family to take care of - no wife or kids.

It is easier (although still monumentally difficult, of course) to take a stand when you are not taking down an innocent wife and children with you, who you might never see again.

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vidarh 4688 days ago
Having the clearance does not mean you have access to everything at that clearance level, just that you can be given access should you need it.

In other words, the number of people who have access to material showing wrongdoing of any sort is likely a tiny fraction of those 1.4 million.

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northwest 4688 days ago
Having some kind of clearance also means: power over other people.

Having power over other people can corrupt any human being and s/he may start to actually like it.

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