When Edward J. Snowden, the former American NSA contractor, gave us the first inkling of an extensive US intelligence-gathering programme by tapping into ordinary people’s phone calls and emails from 150 centres worldwide, including the United States itself, many believed this was the price to keep us safe from international terrorism. Since then, however, a political divide has taken place in the US over the surveillance programme.
Domestic concerns over privacy are involved. This would doubtless have been a factor in emboldening Moscow in granting one year’s temporary asylum to the 30-year-old intelligence technician on Thursday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier called Mr Snowden’s arrival at Moscow’s Sheremetyvo airport some five weeks ago “an unwanted Christmas present” as the US was pressuring Russia to hand him over for prosecution. But today Mr Putin’s Russia is reported to be even considering permanent asylum to Mr Snowden. An angry Washington is threatening to cancel the prospective early September summit meeting between US President Barack Obama and President Putin. Moscow, however, is not impressed. Its spokesmen have said that key international questions such as the reduction of nuclear stockpiles and Syria remain on the agenda, and “you cannot dance tango alone”.
A major problem is that Washington is not treating Mr Snowden as a whistleblower or dissident, but as a criminal for dispersing state secrets. This may reduce sympathy for the American case. Continuing negotiations with Moscow seems the only way forward.