Posted by
glen ropella on
URL: http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/The-AP-kerfuffle-tp7583146p7583478.html
On 07/15/2013 10:32 PM, Steve Smith wrote:
> Can honor ever trump oath?
I think your question is unanswerable, not because of lack of context,
but because both "honor" and "oaths" are ideals, not real things. And
the answers to questions about ideals are always just as idealistic as
the questions ... which means they're ultimately meaningless.
What matters more, I think are the expected outcomes of potential
actions. In the Snowden example, what outcomes are possible then
probable if you leak? What outcomes are possible then probable if you
don't leak. Once you've got a decent handle on that tree, then you can
prioritize those outcomes. The highest priority, most probable outcome
is the one you should work toward. And if that means you leak, then you
leak.
One thing I think is missing from the Snowden case that might have been
present in other cases is that our military industrial complex has
plenty of _experts_ in such "what if" methods. And that's part of why I
classify Snowden with O'Keefe. I see no evidence Snowden engaged in any
significant effort to explore the outcomes tree. If I saw that
evidence, I would likely change my mind about him. But, as it stands, I
see an agenda-driven child who lies to get a position, then almost
_immediately_ grabs the documents and runs.
--
⇒⇐ glen e. p. ropella
But my fuse gets shorter every day
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