NSA probably knows the trove may include certain info that would be super-embarrasing for the US government, and Snowden or Greenwald allusions to "even bigger" (or similar expressions) items support this possibility.
Yet undoubtedly the NSA, DOJ and other state elements, despite how we like to snark at the technical ignorance of politicians, must realize it is going to be practically impossible to suppress all the possible sources of this info getting out. And Snowden of course must be well aware that the pseudo-offer is very unlikely to be sincere, loophole-free or workable in practice.
Thus the real question is, why would NSA make such a futile gesture? It could hardly be intended at face value.
They have a PR problem. Attempting to "meet in the middle" (even if the middle is still somewhat ridiculous) makes them appear like reasonable people and somewhat mitigates their PR problem.
Comments
NSA probably knows the trove may include certain info that would be super-embarrasing for the US government, and Snowden or Greenwald allusions to "even bigger" (or similar expressions) items support this possibility.
Yet undoubtedly the NSA, DOJ and other state elements, despite how we like to snark at the technical ignorance of politicians, must realize it is going to be practically impossible to suppress all the possible sources of this info getting out. And Snowden of course must be well aware that the pseudo-offer is very unlikely to be sincere, loophole-free or workable in practice.
Thus the real question is, why would NSA make such a futile gesture? It could hardly be intended at face value.
They have a PR problem. Attempting to "meet in the middle" (even if the middle is still somewhat ridiculous) makes them appear like reasonable people and somewhat mitigates their PR problem.