I'm not sure why we care what Andreessen thinks. I wish I had a downvote.
Second, he seems to be saying Snowden is a traitor because his revelations are hurting the US tech industry. I can see why that would make Andreessen feel betrayed, but that is hardly the definition of traitor.
Third, as others have said, nobody was surprised the NSA is spying. We're surprised it is conducting pervasive electronic surveillance in the US. (Personally, I'm horrified although not surprised by the scope of the spying outside the US. I would strongly support extending privacy protections to everyone, as unrealistic as that idea is.)
Finally, if we're going to get definitional, Snowden is certainly a traitor. He clearly broke the law, betrayed the trust placed in him and it seems very likely he would be convicted of treason. However, I also think he did the right thing for the right reasons.
If we're going to get "definitional," Snowden is not a traitor. "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort." Setting aside for the moment the definition of "Enemies" - a notion that is usually reserved for wartime - it is difficult to see how Snowden's revelations gave comfort to anyone, and aid only in the sense of "Oh, and by the way, we're reading your emails and listening to your phone calls," which any sane "enemy" already suspected. Witness the precautions the Osama bin Laden camp took to never let any electronic communication originate from their hiding place in Pakistan.
Snowden violated his contract with the NSA and broke the law, but neither of these amounts to treason.
Second, he seems to be saying Snowden is a traitor because his revelations are hurting the US tech industry. I can see why that would make Andreessen feel betrayed, but that is hardly the definition of traitor.
Third, as others have said, nobody was surprised the NSA is spying. We're surprised it is conducting pervasive electronic surveillance in the US. (Personally, I'm horrified although not surprised by the scope of the spying outside the US. I would strongly support extending privacy protections to everyone, as unrealistic as that idea is.)
Finally, if we're going to get definitional, Snowden is certainly a traitor. He clearly broke the law, betrayed the trust placed in him and it seems very likely he would be convicted of treason. However, I also think he did the right thing for the right reasons.