Snowden update: Stuxnet was ours, Snowden can't get to Venezuela from Moscow

Libertarian hero and NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden apparently told Der Spiegel that the United States worked with Israel to develop an ultra-powerful computer virus that successfully delayed the Iranian nuclear program. He has also been granted Asylum in Venezuela, but it remains unclear how he might travel there from Moscow.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to Snowden in his interview with the German newspaper, Der Spiegel, the United States cooperated with Israel in developing the Stuxnet virus, which was successful in infiltrating Iranian nuclear facilities. The virus, or more accurately, computer worm, was designed to affect only very specific computer systems and equipment, allowing targeted harm to be done primarily to centrifuges used to enrich uranium to weapons grade.

The Stuxnet  worm has long been suspected of being part of a larger joint-U.S.-Israeli operation dubbed "Olympic Games," so Snowden's revelation at this time only provides additional credibility to those claims.

Snowden said the operation was coordinated between the NSA and Israel by the Foreign Affairs Directorate, an office that manages intelligence relationships between the U.S. and other nations.

Meanwhile, the greater question is what Snowden intends to do next. Venezuela has granted asylum to the hunted Edward Snowden, but there appears no simple way for him to reach Caracas. There are no direct flights between Moscow and the Venezuelan capital.

Other countries have been asked by the United States to detain Snowden, should he attempt to pass through one of their airports. If arrested, Snowden would face charges of espionage in a U.S. court and could face decades behind bars.

At this time, Snowden will have to make at least one layover and must find a country that does not enjoy an extradition treaty with the United States. Thus far, no country is readily known. It remains unlikely that he will be able to find one and is traveling without a passport.

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