Posted on 12/19/2013 10:48:20 AM PST by kronos77
"I envy Obama because he can spy on his allies without any consequences," said Putin when asked about how his relations had changed with the US following Snowden’s espionage revelations.
During an annual question-and-answer session with journalists, Putin praised Edward Snowden’s actions, saying that he was working for a “noble cause.” At the same time he accepted the importance of espionage programs in the fight against global terrorism, but said the NSA needed guidelines to limit its powers.
“There is nothing to be upset about and nothing to be proud of, spying has always been and is one of the oldest professions,” said Putin.
Referring to the vast amounts of metadata gathered on citizens by the NSA, Putin said it is impossible to sift through all of that information. It is “useless” to look at the analysis of spy agencies because it is the opinion of analysts and not facts and as such can be misleading.
“You need to know the people who analyze them, I know, I did it,” said Putin, harking back to his career as a KGB agent.
The Russian president described Snowden as a “curious character” and said it was not clear why the former CIA contractor had decided to blow the whistle on the NSA’s international espionage program at such a young age.
Russia is not working with Snowden and has not received classified documents from him, Putin said. The whistleblower has been allowed to reside in Russia but only on the condition he does not “engage in anti-American propaganda.”
(Excerpt) Read more at rt.com ...
And as my father would’ve said, don’t say anything unless you have the balls to say everything.
Of course, Putin is all you say.
You can miss the point of what he said, if you wish. Even when Putin has lumbered into the truth you are welcome to miss the point.
The point:
“....that he (Obama) was allowed to.”
I certainly hope you are right, and that the people might have more than forks. Technology has made traditional defenses quite obsolete.
We are left over run, with only a ballot.
Never count US out Rita! {{HUGS}}
What a dictator! What a guy!
Yes, yes. Smooches all around. %./
Thanks Rita.
I don’t know what you’re talking about now, but it is not anywhere near the point I was making ....once again. Nor even the point Putin was making.
Buh bye.
:)
The point you were making is that Putin is "right on".
I was contesting that. It's an easy concept to understand...I don't know why you don't.
I’ll agree ... They always make us wonder. Just part of nature.
Putin expresses a desire to become a black liberal Democrat.
Stairway to Heaven ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHFxncb1gRY
The "West" has deteriorated enough to the point all that Putin is doing is pointing out the obvious.
How do I know? Because that's what Russia does.
The West is doing a good enough job of that on their own.
Only in putin’s and zer0’s mind.
Sure. But I don’t think we need to consider Putin an avatar of truth. What a joke.
I don't know what Putin's game is now, but it is not "impossible to sift through all that information." There are Crays perfectly capable of compiling and analyzing that information. I think he's just needling the simpleton Obastard and driving a wedge between us and our erstwhile allies in Europe by reminding everyone of the US getting caught spying on their Chiefs of State. Because he can.
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