Thursday, July 18, 2013

Could NSA Whistle-Blower Edward Snowden Sink September's Obama-Putin Summit

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G8 Summit at Lough Erne in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland June 17, 2013. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Snowden Standoff Could Sink Obama-Putin Summit -- Wall Street Journal

When the Obama administration discusses matters of sensitive diplomacy, it isn’t always a model of clarity.

But this week reporters have struggled to get a direct answer to what would seem to be a simple question: Is President Barack Obama still planning to attend a summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in early September?

What’s become increasingly evident is the planned summit meeting is now entangled in the delicate negotiations between Messrs. Obama and Putin over the fate of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Let’s back up to mid-June.

Read more ....

Update: U.S. vague on whether Obama will go to Moscow amid Snowden flap -- Reuters

My Comment: I for one would be very surprised if the summit is cancelled .... especially since President Obama himself discounted the importance of Edward Snowden only a few weeks ago. But I am not privy to the intelligence that President Obama has on what files Edward Snowden may have taken from the NSA .... and if it is something like this .... I can then understand why the U.S. is upset that Edward Snowden is still on the loose, and why they are upset with Russia in "not playing ball" in having him extradited back to the U.S..

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