Over the weekend, government officials and news agencies were playing a game of “Where's Snowden.” The NSA whistle-blower made a sudden departure from Hong Kong, reportedly traveling to Moscow, Russia. Snowden was then not in his seat for the next flight, which would have brought him from Russia to Cuba. Officials are now unclear if Snowden ever actually made his way to Russia, or if the flight was simply a diversion.
U.S. intelligence officials have warned Western nations that Snowden “should not be allowed to proceed in any further international travel, other than is necessary to return him to the United States.” It appears that warning is meant specifically for the nation of Ecuador, which has granted asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Ecuador's foreign minister, Ricardo Patino, said, “We will consider the position of the U.S. Government and we will make a decision in due course in line with the [Ecuadorean] constitution, the laws, international politics, and sovereignty.”
As of now, there are no confirmed reports on Snowden's actual location, but Reuters is reporting he has received refugee documentation to ensure safe passage to Ecuador. Already tense relations between these countries are being further strained by this new development. The world is watching to see how these events unfold, but it's anyone's guess as to where Edward Snowden may turn up.
