George W. Bush: Edward Snowden Damaged The Security Of US

Former US President, George W. Bush says he thinks former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden damaged the country’s security.

Speaking to CNN on the scandal that has plagued the Obama administration since Snowden revealed the classified information to the British publication, The Guardian, the former President stated,

“I know he damaged the country. The Obama administration will deal with it. I think he damaged the security of the country.”

Bush and his wife Laura are in Tanzania, on a humanitarian mission.

Talking about the surveillance program his administration put in place after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Bush declined to criticize the spy program.

“I put the program in place to protect the country and one of the certainties is civil liberties were guaranteed,” Bush said in the interview, which is scheduled to air Monday afternoon on CNN. “I think there needs to be a balance between security and privacy and as the president described, there is a proper balance.”

George W. Bush was heavily criticized for putting up the program that was originally set up to intercept communications between terrorists overseas and American citizens.

The former President refused to criticize Obama,

“It doesn’t do any good,” he said. “It’s a hard job. He has plenty on his agenda and it’s difficult. A former president doesn’t need to make it harder.”

Speaking of his recent spike in popularity, passing that of the current occupant of the White House, Bush said that he could care less about it.

“You know, ultimately history will judge the decisions that I made. And I won’t be around because it’s going to take a while for the objective historians to show up. So I’m pretty comfortable with it. I did what I did.”

Former President Bush will meet with President Obama while in Tanzania. Obama is currently visiting Africa.

What do you think of the comments from George W. Bush about Edward Snowden?

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