Pardon? Hell, give Snowden a Hero Metal.

As one who supported Edward Snowden from Day One in his Odyssey to avoid prosecution for stealing government property and violating the Espionage Act of 1917, to expose illegal governmental mass surveillance, It's grim satisfaction that many in public affairs and the media are now calling for the President to give Snowden a full pardon. It was the Bush administration that inflicted real damage on our body politic with its mass surveillance that courts simply deemed 'wrong' under Section 215 of the Patriot Act. Because of Snowden's bravery in risking life in prison, if not the death penalty, for his courageous actions, prompting his dash to safety in Russia, mass surveillance abuse has been stopped with widespread reforms. Many sensible officials, including former Attorney General Eric Holder, acknowledge Snowden's contributions to transparency and lawfulness in governmental surveillance of its citizens. Not a hint of personal gain or attempt to harm America shadows Snowden's actions.

Compare Snowden's selfless motivation to that of former general David Petraeus, the 'MacArthur' like Golden Boy the neocons used to con America into supporting our criminal wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Petraeus was given a slap on the wrist for providing his biographer classified information, and is still trotted out by the war party to justify American perpetual war, as he enjoys a well paid life in business and academia. Petraeus' motivation? Enjoying a fawning biography of himself between the covers while enjoying the gorgeous biographer under the covers.

Yes, lets give Snowden that pardon, and while at it, free an even more courageous whistle blowing patriot, former Pvt. Chelsea Manning, three years into a 35 year sentence for revealing a snippet of American war crimes in Iraq. If the government really wants to bring grievous government criminals to justice, they could start with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rice.