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Obama: No, I Haven't Called Putin About Snowden -- and I'm Not Going to Scramble Jets
US President Barack Obama gives a press conference on June 27, 2013 at the presidential palace in Dakar. Obama arrived late on June 26 in Dakar to launch a three-nation trip designed to fulfil neglected expectations for his presidency on a continent where he has deep ancestral roots. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Obama: No, I Haven't Called Putin About Snowden -- and I'm Not Going to Scramble Jets

"...to get a 29-year-old hacker."

DAKAR, Senegal (TheBlaze/AP) -- President Barack Obama says he won't engage in wheeling, dealing and trading to get NSA leaker Edward Snowden extradited to the U.S.

Obama says he also won't be scrambling military jets to go after a 29-year-old hacker, rejecting suggestions the U.S. might send the Air Force to force down a plane carrying Snowden from Russia to another country. Snowden turned 30 last week.

Obama says he hasn't personally called the leaders of Russia or of China. He says he shouldn't have to. He says expelling a criminal is something that should be dealt with through routine legal channels.

Obama says the fact Snowden obtained the secret documents shows significant vulnerabilities at the National Security Agency. He says the damage that's been done is that NSA surveillance programs have been exposed.

"Now, we don't have an extradition treaty with Russia, which makes it more complicated," Obama said.

He continued:

"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."

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