Obama threatens those who would shelter Snowden, and then, Thursday, backs down from those warnings . . . . . just like we ALL knew he would.

Take it to the bank,  “capitulation” is the center piece to Obama’s foreign policy when it comes to dealing with strong and evil.  Just three days ago,  Obama was telling Russian,  China and Ecuador,  “You had better think seriously about what you are doing” in not surrendering Snowden to US authorities.  Implied threats were abundant,  while those of us at home,  were wondering just what he meant with such threatening tones.  We already knew that the “red line” in Syria meant nothing to Obama  . . . .  . just talk and nothing more. In addition to this failure,  he walked away from a victory in Iraq,  making a mockery of the Statis of Forces Treatise we had with that country and has allowed Iraq to be over run with Iranian jihadists. More than this,  he fought a losing war in Afghanistan,  sending 1,500 troops to their deaths for absolutely nothing.  

And now,  his most recent threats have melted away;  Obama pretending that Mr.  Snowden was just another “hacker.”  No doubt,  someone in his staff,  realized that the Administration has done nothing to reset relationships with the Russians;  that it snubbed China’s First Couple two weeks ago;  that it has absolutely no leverage whatsoever.  As an American,  I am thoroughly embarrassed as I watch this know nothing issue empty threats as if our enemies can see the cowardice in his bluster.    

"I am interested in making sure that the rules of extradition are obeyed," said Obama. "Now, we don't have an extradition treaty with Russia, which makes it more complicated. You don't have to have an extradition treaty to resolve some of these issues. There have been some useful conversations that have taken place between the United States government and the Russian government, and my continued expectation is that Russia or other countries that have talked about potentially providing Mr. Snowden asylum recognize that they are part of an international community and that they should be abiding by international law. And we'll continue to press them as hard as we can to make sure that they do so. But let me -- one last thing because you asked the final question. No, I'm not going to be scrambling jets to get a 29-year-old hacker."

Obama went on to argue that we have important and deep financial ties to China and Russia and implied that it would be silly to put those “relationships” in doubt for the sake of Mr. Snowden. 

Understand that Snowden is not a hacker.  He worked for the NSA and stole hundreds if not thousands of secret documents,  detailing all those who are being spied upon by the United States,  including all of its citizenry.