Well, fair point. My bias may come from the fact that I see NSA domestic surveillance as grossly unconstitutional as well as an undemocratically implemented abu

Well, fair point. My bias may come from the fact that I see NSA domestic surveillance as grossly unconstitutional as well as an undemocratically implemented abuse of state power. I suppose it's useful to ask at what point can the State grant an order that is illegitimate, if this isn't one of those cases? If Putin has a court order drafted to do his dirty work does that make it any more legitimate? Maybe Snowden broke laws, but every single person breaks some frivolous laws every year of their life that they can be prosecuted for, see The Intercept source I posted on this.