> By doing this, they give FedGov the ability to insinuate that Snowden is (and was) a Russian agent from now until the time he leaves the country. You're righ

> By doing this, they give FedGov the ability to insinuate that Snowden is (and was) a Russian agent from now until the time he leaves the country. You're right, it cuts both ways. To go back to ben_w's comment though, I don't think we can make any conclusions about what Snowden is or who he's loyal to; he could be a a patriotic American, a Russian agent, just a guy who wanted to disclose unethical government behavior, or a mix of these things. All seem equally plausible to me, since I don't have insider info.