Snowden's Location Unknown But Whistleblower is Safe

Impact

Dozens of journalists boarded the plane to Havana from Moscow, expecting to snap a few photos and perhaps jot down a few words from Snowden. However, all they were met with was an eerily empty seat. 

Snowden's whereabouts may not be known but it is possible that he has perhaps decided to apply for asylum in other countries besides Ecuador. 

The U.S. is now taking this time to pressure Russia into detaining him. Chief spokeswoman for the National Security Council Caitlin Hayden is pushing Russian authorities to keep him in their territory. 

"Given our intensified co-operation after the Boston marathon bombings and our history of working with Russia on law enforcement matters – including returning numerous high level criminals back to Russia at the request of the Russian government – we expect the Russian government to look at all options available to expel Mr Snowden back to the US to face justice for the crimes with which he is charged,” Hayden said.

In a conference call with reporters this morning, founder of WikiLeaks Julian Assange has explained that Snowden is "in a safe place" and that "his spirits are high" but has chosen to keep the NSA leaker's location under wraps.

Snowden and those who are aiding him know that the stakes are high and the U.S. will be relentless in their pursuit. The Snowden case is now not just one of a man evading the government but it is one in which the U.S. is now forced to put their diplomatic relations to the test. This debacle has the potential to change the political climate between America and its allies.