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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPutin Calls Snowden A ‘Strange Guy’ Who’s In For A ‘Difficult Life’
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview Wednesday that Edward Snowden is a "strange guy" who will likely lead a "difficult life" after his disclosures of top secret U.S. surveillance programs.
"You know, I sometimes thought about him, he is a strange guy," Putin said in an interview with state-run Channel One television, as quoted by AFP. "How is he going to build his life? In effect, he condemned himself to a rather difficult life. I do not have the faintest idea about what he will do next."
Russia's decision to grant Snowden asylum has compounded Putin's already-frosty relationship with President Barack Obama. It prompted Obama to nix his meeting with Putin that was scheduled for this week.
Putin said in the interview that the U.S. "could have been more professional" on the Snowden matter and revealed that the former government contractor was told while he was in Hong Kong that he could come to Russia so long as he stopped the leaks.
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http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/putin-calls-snowden-strange-guy-whos-in-for
ProSense
(116,464 posts)KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)randome
(34,845 posts)[hr][font color="blue"][center]You should never stop having childhood dreams.[/center][/font][hr]
Dash87
(3,220 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)Or maybe "The Fish" could teach him the trade and give him a life
check this
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)can that finally put to rest the lie that Snowden got stuck in Moscow because the US revoked his passport.
Moscow was his destination all along.
Sid
UTUSN
(70,779 posts)[font size=5]...were he a Russian national, Putin said he would do everything to make sure he is held responsible in strict accordance with Russian law. " .... [/font]
*********QUOTE********
http://gawker.com/you-know-i-sometimes-thought-about-him-he-is-a-stran-1250788247
[font size=5]"You know, I sometimes thought about him, he is a strange guy(...) How is he going to build his life? In effect, he condemned himself to a rather difficult life. I do not have the faintest idea about what he will do next" Russian President Vladimir Putin on NSA leaker Edward Snowden[/font]
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ihnNR3lkwIuJQR2eOkyATFXEUA1w?docId=CNG.e75faaa2f6df50bdfa970b26510033e2.3b1
[font size=5]Snowden 'strange guy' set for tough life: Putin[/font]
By Anna Smolchenko (AFP)
.... Well, it's clear we will not give him up, he can feel safe here. But what's next?" Putin said, suggesting that Washington, which wants to put him on trial, may in time reconsider its stance.
"And maybe some compromises will be found in this case."
But asked what would he do with the leaker were he a Russian national, Putin said he would do everything to make sure he is "held responsible in strict accordance with Russian law." ....
The Russian strongman insisted that Russia did not receive any information from Snowden, reiterating that the country could not extradite him simply because Moscow and Washington did not have an extradition treaty even though Russia proposed concluding such an agreement.
"And what should we do after it?
"Hand him over there? Then conclude the agreement with us. If you do not want to, fine," Putin said, adding Washington should not then insist that Russia extradite Snowden when the United States refuses to expel Russian "bandits." ....
*************UNQUOTE*************
ProSense
(116,464 posts)alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)I hope he enjoys Moscow, or wherever in the Russian Federation he ends up.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)<...>
Putin insisted Russian intelligence had not obtained any information from the 30-year-old American.
"We have national interest and we don't want to undermine...U.S.-Russian ties," he said.
Despite Russia's refusal to hand over Snowden, Putin voiced sympathy for the United States' desire to prosecute him.
"If it really were secret information and if such a person would inflict any damage on us, then, undoubtedly, I would seek to put him in front of the Russian law in all its severity," he said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/04/us-usa-security-snowden-russia-idUSBRE9830QD20130904
UTUSN
(70,779 posts)PUTIN, in so many words, pins him as delusional, and once a KGB always one, who knows his reeducation diagnoses, and the concept of who "adopted" whom is funny (DELUSIONAL) in this situation. It's clear that PUTIN is open to some kind of "compromise" among other things, such as 1) further embarrassment/up-manship for OBAMA/U.S., 2) concrete gains of material or his own "bandits" gains.
[font size=5]Putin said while US special services consider Snowden a traitor he is someone with a [FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow"]completely different frame of mind[/FONT] and considers himself to be a fighter for human rights ."[/font]