CNN news 2013-08-01 加文本

cnn news 2013-08-01

I am Anderson Cooper, welcome to thePodcast. We are interviewing with NAS leaker Edward Snowden's father, alsoridiculous. Let's get started.

The fight over NAS leaker Edward Snowden isabout many things, national security, serious alleged crime, the right toprivacy, loud echoes of the cold war and it's also about one man's son. The sonwho is being called whistleblower by some and traitor by others. The son is nowstuck in limbo at an airport in Moscow, while officials in Washington at veryhighest levels are demanding him back. The latest enticement is a promise notto seek the death penalty against him. In a moment, you will hear from EdwardSnowden's father Lon about what that's like, but first, how we got here.

My name is Edward Snowden and I am 29 yearsold.

It has been near two months since EdwardSnowden showed himself to the world the source behind the NSA leaks. Snowdenrevealed the U.S. government has forced Verizon U.S. telecom company to handover the phone records of millions of Americans. He also revealed the secretprogram used by the NSA called prism which gives government direct access todata from internet companies like google and Facebook. He gave this interviewto the Guardian.

I think the public owned an explanation ofmotivation behind the people who made disclosures that are outside ofdemocratic model.

Snowden didn't hide his identity but he didhide his exact location revealing only that he was somewhere in Hong Kong andhinted at a life on the run.

I could be you know rendered by the CIA, Icould have a people come after me. And that's a fear I will live on under forthe rest of my life, however, long it happens to be.

Reaction to Snowden's public revelation wasmixed. A hero to some, but to other. This guy is a traitor. He's a defector,he's not a hero.

It's a giant violation of the law.

I think he's a traitor.

Five days after Snowden's identity wasrevealed he was charged with espionage. The U.S. though Snowden's extraditionfrom Hong Kong and revoked his passport. The days later Snowden with the helpof Wiki leaks managed to board plan bound for Moscow. After arriving at Moscowairport, he again went into hiding, never passing through immigration, stayingwith airport's transit zone with reporters from all over the world looking forhim.

No sign of Edward Snowden, no one hereseems to know where he is.

Moscow was never intended as finialdestination. According to Wiki leaks, Snowden applied for asylums in more than20 countries. For now, Snowden remains in the transit zone keeping largely outof sight, expect this one press conference he nearly two weeks ago.

A little over a month ago, I had a family,a home in paradise, and I lived in great comfort. I also had the capabilitywithout any warrant at all to search for, seize, and read your communications.That is the power to change people’s fates. It is also a serious violation ofthe law.

Snowden has applied for temporary asylum inRussia saying he will be tortured and would face the death penalty if hereturned to the United States. U.S. attorney general Eric Holder assured theRussians that U.S. will not seek the death penalty if Snowden were returned tostand trial. So far, the Russians have refused to hand Snowden over remains inthe airport according to his lawyer he is studying Russian and may end upstaying in the country long term.