WHETHER HE WAS “JUST”  AN ANALYST OR DEEP COVER SPY Edward Snowden is a name in Western Intelligence and Diplomatic circles that still is able to turn stomachs.

Systems/IT guy, Snowden had unparalleled to the nations secrets. He released, or rather gave to the media, notably the Guardian newspaper, information of wrongdoing by the US government Whistleblower or Political Firestarter, fleeing the United States and having his American passport cancelled, Snowden eventually found refuge in Putin’s Russia – (he was welcomed with a bear hug no doubt.)

Snowden has been able to marry, grow his family, all under the protection of the Russian security apparatus. Let’s be clear, Snowden has likely turned over a lot of America’s secrets, sources and methods regarding  the Intel Community – he has undoubtedly been and still is an extremely valuable asset to the Russians.

Perhaps the power got to his head, hubris or self-importance, the brazen act of stealing and leaking information to the media, Snowden should have known by choosing that route for his revelations would not only cause a lot of damage to the US and her allies but would put him and his family at grave risk.

There may not be a strong whistleblowing culture at the NSA, but America has a rich history of people getting information out to the public not because it is “interesting for the public” but it is the “public interest”. What his actions boil down to is this: he saw some wrongdoing, refused to go his superiors, or even give the info only to American media outlets, then he to fled the U.S. and took up Russian citizenship.

The last sentence is arguably not a description of a patriot or anyone who has some loyalty to nis colleagues and his country of origin, he was gone and taken  citizenship of a country which is a sworn enemy of America.

Russia, mired in a war on its Eastern Front with Ukraine, struggling economy and experiencing biting as well suffocating sanctions, is playing chess with the West and one key piece is…yes you guessed it, Edward Snowden.