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LightBug1 • today at 4:11 PM • 0 replies • view on HN

Sorry, pathetic.

It was the Mr Huang's personal weakness that enabled the spying.

I've said before. This was a private matter, and I will not crucify him for his mistake / weakness - though it does speak somewhat to his character.

However, the spying element of this is absolutely deserving of blame. The personal weakness he's shown has enabled a national security risk. That's no small thing.

Let's pretend I took drugs and got caught. That's a personal matter.

Now let's pretend I took drugs and then ran over a family while driving. It's no longer 'just' a personal matter, despite my having zero intent to harm. But I bet you'd still, and should, blame me as my personal failing led to significant harm. Manslaughter is different to murder, but it's still blaming me for what I'd done. Rightly.