Snowden Back News Today

>> he may not want to have to wheel and deal on other issues, but youve got the gay ban, whatever we do in syria, they do the opposite. do we start to look like a u nick? >> no, i think what the president was doing and you see this is what the attorney general was doing, it was an effort not to put russias back dependence the wall. frankly, if we wanted snowden back, that would be counter productive. to a agree that the president would get in putins face that would not help. we basically removed...

>> reporter: we have no way of knowing for sure, carol, but i think the fact that snowden has 345ed little progress so far is perhaps a sign that they are indeed quite concerned about this. weve had this very almost contradictory russian position through this whole issue, where are usuala refuses to send snowden back, but hopes that doesnt damage u.s./russian relations. she say thats a concern for them. the fact that hes not been released. the fact that there has been no saul pin one way or anot...

I dont think most people would. is is russia iran? no, but theyre heading in that direction. >> on the snowden subject, vladimir putin today addressed some of these concerns. lets take a listen. i want to get your reaction. >> translator: bilateral opinions are far mor important than the activities of the secret service. we warned mr. snowden any action by him that could call damage to russian/american relations is unacceptable for us. >> he says the u.s./russia relationship is important. does t...

Understand already how it is that we go -- look at patterns of communications and see how they may or may not be seeking. the president saying this is month big deal is a big deal. >> kim, why is -- the president politically downplay this when justice department is -- brought charge against snowden? >> well, i think it goes to that question you had in the opening was -- american influence. i think the president is worried their influence is such that they may not be able to get snowden back. and...

Edward snowden that hes holed up in an airport in moscow, with the united states eager to bring him home to face charges. snowdens flight has strained u.s. relationships with china and russia, which both have so far refused to send him back. even though president obama said hes not about to scramble jets to go after a, quote, 29-year-old hacker, he is determined to get snowden back. >> my continued expectation is that russia or other countries that have talked about potentially providing mr. sno...

President obama and his family will be in south africa. right now hes in senegal. he was asked about snowden. he said he should not have to get directly in touch with russias president to bring snowden back. >> i have not called them personally because number one, i shouldnt have to. this is something thats routinely dealt with between law enforcement officials in various countries. this is not exceptional from a legal perspective. im not going to be scrambling jets to get a 29-year-old hacker. ...

Bit on "state of the union" this morning. take a listen. >> whats infuriating is prime minister putin of russia aiding and abetting snowdens escape. the bottom line is very simple. allies are supposed to treat each other in decent ways and putin always seems almost eager to put a finger in the united states, whether its syria, iran and now, of course, with snowden. >> reporter: and of course, you know, officials were not really thinking that russia would be a major factor in all of this. they ex...