Edward Snowden: Living in Russia is "great."

[pnwmom]

http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/edward-snowden-living-in-russia-is-great-20150108

January 8, 2015 Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden wants his critics to know that living is Russia is "great" and that, despite reports to the contrary, he doesn't need alcohol to enjoy his time there.

"Mike Hayden, former NSA, CIA director ... was talking about how I was—everybody in Russia is miserable," Snowden told journalist James Bamford, according to a transcript of an interview released Thursday. "And I'm going to end up miserable and I'm going to be a drunk and I'm never going to do anything. I don't drink. I've never been drunk in my life. And they talk about Russia like it's the worst place on earth. Russia's great."

Snowden's interview, which contained no new revelations about government spying, took place last June in a Moscow hotel room and will air soon on PBS. The discussion largely focused on U.S. cyber capabilities, but Snowden's favorable comments toward Russia are likely to again irk many of his critics, some of whom have suggested he has been sharing U.S. secrets with the Russian government.

This is not the first time Snowden has appeared to speak approvingly of the increasingly pugilistic country, which spent the better part of the past year chilling its relations with the U.S. after invading part of Ukraine. Last spring Snowden made a surprise appearance at an annual telecast with Russian President Vladimir Putin to ask if the country engaged in mass surveillance of its citizens.

SNIP

[MohRokTah]

1. I hear the koolaid is AWESOME in Russia.

[FLPanhandle]

2. It's better than a US prison

And if he doesn't talk it up, then the Russians will expel him. He is smart enough to praise his sanctuary no matter what.

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. Enjoy, Citizen!

[merrily]

4. Praise for a country that provided you sanctuary

while others were ready to bring down a plane carrying a head of state on an official mission to see if you were aboard.

Seems like a no brainer, unless you would prefer prison, or worse.