Putin Says He “Envies” Obama Because He Can “Get Away With” Spying On His Own Citizens…

[happyg]

And this is coming from an ex-KGB guy.

Via USA Today:

Russia President Vladimir Putin says his government is not working with National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, and defended President Obama over his spying program — sort of.

“How do I feel about Obama after Snowden’s revelations? I envy him, because he can get away with it,” Putin said during a Thursday news conference in Russia.

Speaking a day after the U.S. released a report recommending changes in NSA programs, Putin defended espionage in general.

He called it “one of the oldest professions in the world, just like some other well-known professions — we won’t mention them here,” an apparent reference to prostitution.

http://weaselzippers.us/2013/12/19/putin-says-he-envies-obama-because-he-can-get-away-with-spying-on-his-own-citizens/

[Oceander]

Obama has become such a laughing-stock.  Does anyone seriously believe that Putin and the KGB do not spy on Russians?

[happyg]

Obama has become such a laughing-stock.  Does anyone seriously believe that Putin and the KGB do not spy on Russians?

I agree with you. However, Obama has opened himself up to ridicule, and Putin is taking advantage of him. How better to beat Obama at his own game? This is another tactic on how to win a war without firing a shot. The sad part is, Obama represents America in the eyes of the world. 

[mountaineer]

I agree with you. However, Obama has opened himself up to ridicule, and Putin is taking advantage of him. How better to beat Obama at his own game? This is another tactic on how to win a war without firing a shot.

Yep. Vlad is just going to continue "sticking it" to BarryO - because he can.

[truth_seeker]

Obama has become such a laughing-stock.  Does anyone seriously believe that Putin and the KGB do not spy on Russians?

The KGB are now called FSB. They have internal jurisdiction much like FBI and MI5.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Security_Service_(Russia)

Here's a link to an excellent award winning film, "Lives of Others" 2006 which covered the Stasi in East Germany before unification.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lives_of_Others

I believe both the FSB and the FBI conduct surveillance on both criminal cases and on political cases when directed.

The NSA gathers the entire "haystack" on the assumption they need it in order to surveil the needle.

What is new is that it is all out in the open presumably. If the USA does it, presumably the UK and maybe others can either do it too, or get info from us.

The need is based on 9/11/2001 mistakes. If you believe the security services of the US can and do prevent terrorist crimes, using such capabilities, then meddling about to restrict their capabilities carries the risk of letting a terrorist act proceed, instead of stopping it.

If you believe this or other administrations would abuse this data, for political or any reason, then it needs at the vey least tremendous oversight.

[DCPatriot]

Obama has become such a laughing-stock.  Does anyone seriously believe that Putin and the KGB do not spy on Russians?

Of course he does....but he's taking a tip from Alinsky....mock and ridicule the target.

Oh....and he sure wishes that he had the NSA software...to go along with Snowden's treasure trove of what he walked out with.