Rep. Robert Pittenger works to reassure America's allies post-Edward Snowden

Rep. Robert Pittenger is on a mission to smooth over relations with allies that have been damaged by the revelations of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden.

After meeting Wednesday with a delegation of Austrian lawmakers, Pittenger, R-N.C., said recent developments in Iraq and Syria — where radical Islamists have gained ground — are cause for some concern, noting he thinks the embattled region is “the training ground” for terrorists. He cited the “enormous base” of support and collaboration radical Islamist terrorists have amassed in the Middle East as well as an uptick in terror-related deaths as reasons for cooperation.