Angela Merkel warns US over surveillance in first speech of third term

[bananas]

Source: Guardian

Angela Merkel has used the first, agenda-setting speech of her third term in office to criticise America's uncompromising defence of its surveillance activities.

In a speech otherwise typically short of strong emotion or rhetorical flourishes, the German chancellor found relatively strong words on NSA surveillance, two days before the US secretary of state, John Kerry, is due to visit Berlin.

"A programme in which the end justifies all means, in which everything that is technically possible is then acted out, violates trust and spreads mistrust," she said. "In the end, it produces not more but less security."

Merkel emphasised the need for wider access to the internet for citizens: "We want to make sure the internet retains its promise. That's why we want to protect it".

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/29/angela-merkel-us-surveillance-speech-germany-chancellor

[iamthebandfanman]

1. Yes, im sure they dont spy on anyone...

Saintly, the German people are...

I mean, its not like they ever started wars with the same basic motto of 'germans are better than you!' 3 separate times in a 70 year period.

nah.

everyone should trust everyone else because as we all know.. all human beings are good natured and would never dream of screwing others over for gain...

*sigh*
all modern nations spy on other nations.. people who think otherwise are being pretty naïve about the world we live in.

our spy agencies shouldn't be involved in spying domestically on law abiding citizens.. but frankly its their job to do it foreign nations.. and im glad they do.

"A programme in which the end justifies all means, in which everything that is technically possible is then acted out, violates trust and spreads mistrust,"
And if an American citizen hadn't gone around exposing our agencies for doing their job (I agree with whistle blowing on actions against American citizens), theyd never had known (supposedly) .. so no one would have to worry about the sense of violated trust. again, do people really think the nation of Germany spys on no-one else?

[Fumesucker]

6. Germany is likely smart enough not to outsource their spying

[JDPriestly]

2. She is expressing what leaders in other nations are thinking.

Last edited Thu Jan 30, 2014, 04:18 AM - Edit history (1)

"In the end, it produces not more but less security."

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/29/angela-merkel-us-surveillance-speech-germany-chancellor

[rhett o rick]

3. But, but there are DU posters that still claim that the NSA is doing nothing wrong. Seems

Ms. Merkel doesnt agree.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. Merkel is a racist Paulite who worships Putin

I hear that he husband is a pole dancer.

[notemason]

5. No secret

We already knew she was going to say that.