And in Good News....

Noon on January 20th provides an excellent opportunity for Russian President Vladimir Putin to give President-Elect Donald Trump the perfect inauguration gift - Edward Snowden.

[...]

There are a lot of reasons why the gifting of Snowden would make sense to Putin.

The Russian President needs a relationship with the incoming U.S. President where the U.S. overlooks Moscow’s anti-democratic activities at home and destabilizing activities abroad in exchange for a partnership on issues where our interests overlap, such as on extremism. This would give President Putin one of the things he desires the most – being seen at home and abroad as an equal of the U.S.

  Cipher Brief

Is Michael Morrell delusional? Who else thinks Vladimir Putin doesn't already see himself as the "equal of the US"? Furthermore, his approval ratings in his own country are high.*  Maybe Morrell doesn't think we know this?

What better way for President Putin to cement the personal tie than to give the President-Elect a high-profile gift -- Snowden. At the same time, what better way for President Putin to poke his finger in the eye of his adversary Barack Obama than to put Snowden on a plane at the very moment Mr. Obama is no longer president?

[...]

I'm well aware that Russia does not have an extradition treaty with the U.S., but I am confident that President Putin is creative enough to find a way within his own legal system to deport Snowden.

[...]

[S]eeing Snowden arrive in the U.S. and placed in handcuffs would go far in healing the wounds that exist between President-Elect Trump and his Intelligence Community. The IC, more than anyone else, wants Snowden brought to justice.

Except, Obama no longer being president is poke in the eye enough, and the bigger adversary for Putin is by far the US IC. So, why would he "gift" them? If Mr. Morrell's astute analysis is indicative of CIA thinking, perhaps we are beginning to see why the IC is having problems. No, that's not the good news.

This is:

[Edward] Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor who was granted asylum in Russia in 2013, will be allowed to remain in the country for “a couple more years,” Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, said on Facebook.

[...]

Ms. Zakharova described her Facebook post as a rejection of an idea presented in a recent article in The Cipher Brief by a former acting director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Michael J. Morell. He suggested that Russia should extradite Mr. Snowden to the United States as a signal of good will to the incoming Trump administration.

[...]

“The funniest thing is that the former deputy director of the C.I.A. !!! does not know that Snowden’s residence permit in Russia was just extended for a couple more years,” Ms. Zakharova wrote.

“And seriously, the essence of what the C.I.A. agent is suggesting is an ideology of betrayal,” she wrote. “You spoke, Mr. Morrell, and now it’s clear to everybody that in your office, it’s normal to bring gifts in the form of people, and to hand over those who seek defense.”
  NYT

Boom.

Back to Mr. Morrell...

The ball is in President Putin’s court. President-Elect Trump can encourage his Russian counterpart behind the scenes. What an opportunity for them both.
  Cipher Brief

Did he just set Trump up? Why, I think he did. "Trump can't even get Putin to hand over Snowden. Boy, has he been played."

*

UPDATE: Three years.

Snowden’s Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, told RIA Novosti news agency that the permit had been extended until 2020. He also said that as of next year, Snowden would have the right to apply for Russian citizenship.
  Guardian

I don't think he would do it, but wouldn't that put panties in a wad here if he did? It might also put him in a ticklish position if he doesn't.