Glenn Greenwald on Edward Snowden: "If I were the U.S. government, I would be praying for his health"

In a special Saturday edition of "Piers Morgan Live," the primetime program invites Morgan Spurlock to take over, as the host of CNN's "Inside Man" fills in for the British television presenter, bringing "Guest Host Week" to a close in fascinating fashion.

Welcoming reporter Glenn Greenwald, the columnist for "The Guardian" who is largely credited with breaking the story surrounding Edward Snowden and leaked information on government agencies use of secret data-mining programs, Spurlock asks why the former National Security Agency contractor fled America:

"Why did he leave the U.S. in the first place? Why not stay here and fight," wonders Spurlock. "If he was really a hero, wouldn't he have just, you know, be seen a little differently if he had just stuck around and kind of stood his ground?"

Seemingly protecting his confidant, Greenwald offers the alternative perspective:

"I don't think so. Um, if you look at what Bradley Manning, for example, did, who leaked thousands of pages showing serious war crimes on the part of the United States, he didn't run, and yet most people in the media and lots of people in the United States viewed him as somehow an odious person, even a traitor," explains the columnist. "He's been locked away in a cage for many years and we haven't heard from him."

As to the reported information that Snowden may still be in possession of, Greenwald insists that keeping him alive, and safe, is in America's national interest:

"If he were killed, there'd be no telling how those documents would then get released, probably more irresponsibly," says the columnist. "If I were the U.S. government I would be praying for his health, not trying to kill him, because of how responsible of a whistleblower he's been in insisting that these stories be reported judiciously."

Watch the clip for more of Spurlock's interview with Greenwald, and for the full edition of "Piers Morgan Live" as hosted by the "Inside Man," tune to CNN Saturday at 9.
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