Steve Chapman on Excusing Abuses of Power

If you’re part of the U.S. national security apparatus and you
torture someone to death during an interrogation, you can rest
easy. Two administrations have furnished get-out-of-jail-free cards
absolving you of responsibility for your crime. But if you’re part
of that same U.S. national security apparatus and divulge to the
American people information about government activities that are
unauthorized, illegal, and quite possibly unconstitutional, you
should expect no such mercy. Commit crimes on behalf of the
government? OK. Reveal secret abuses committed by the government?
You must be joking. Steve Chapman says the government’s reaction to
Snowden’s revelations perfectly demonstrates the Washington rule:
Abuse power, and you’ll be protected by those with power. Expose
abuse, and you’re on your own.

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