Former President George W. Bush said NSA leaker Edward Snowden "damaged the security of the country" in a CNN interview to be aired this evening:
ROBYN CURNOW: Do you think he's a traitor?
GEORGE W. BUSH: I know he damaged the country. The Obama administration will deal with it.
ROBYN CURNOW: Do you think it's possible for one man to really damage the security of the nation?
GEORGE W. BUSH: I think he damaged the security of the country.
ROBYN CURNOW: And when it comes to surveillance, there can be a real time understanding of what you're Googling --
GEORGE W. BUSH: I put the program in place to protect the country. And one of the certainties is civil liberties were guaranteed.
Bush also reiterated he is "comfortable with the decisions" he made in office and is confident historians will judge his presidency in an objective context.
The full interview airs at 5 P.M. eastern time on CNN.
