That feels not impossible, but unlikely. If Snowden were a CIA deep-cover operative against another US institution, couldn't they have found him a better safe-

That feels not impossible, but unlikely. If Snowden were a CIA deep-cover operative against another US institution, couldn't they have found him a better safe-house than in Russia? Having no experience with the CIA, maybe I just vastly under-estimate the amenities of Russian safe-houses. ;)