Snowden's Asylum

We all understand human nature, understand ourselves well enough, fortunately, to understand why vladimir putin decided to give the great american traitor or hero a one year reprieve in russia, where he won't have to face, at least yet, the inexorable heavy hand of american "justice."

Mr snowden's life might well still be in great peril, depending on how determined the regime, aka american government, is to apprehend him. This might turn into something really exciting yet. Motion picture producers are already lining up.

the russians absolutely, just absolutely had to remind teh united states and the world who's in charge; that no one is going to give orders to Russia. Righteously, the russians made snowden promise to stop hurting the united states, thus demonstrating their superior ability to do what the U.S. could not do for itself; protect its own intelligence gathering michinary.

assuming the soviet union (at times like this, they deserve to be called that) truly wishes to protect american interests, one would think that mr snowden would simply be handed over to U.S. officials, but no, it simply cannot be that simple. We must complicate matters, mustn't we.

as to whether snowden is a traitor or a hero, take your pick. Here's a thought; perhaps he is both, both traitor and hero. Traitor to the american gernment, hero to the american people. If this seems to imply a difference, a separation between government and people, it was intended to.

American government and american people seem, at this point, to have differing interests. People seem to want personal economic survival; roof over head, money with which to pay bills, buy food, and so forth.

Government seems to want to enhance and cement itw own power, around the world, and among its own people, above and beyond any other purpose. Emphasis on the word "seems". Who knows, maybe our government really does have our best interests in mind; doubtful, but maybe.