The NSA Lied to the German Government

[unhappycamper]

http://watchingamerica.com/News/231048/the-nsa-lied-to-the-german-government/

The NSA Lied to the German Government
Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany
By Hans Leyendecker and Georg Mascolo
Translated By Ron Argentati
25 January 2014
Edited by Gillian Palmer

The United States has lied at least twice to its German ally. In 2002, the Americans promised not to eavesdrop on the telecommunications of German citizens, then in the same year began monitoring Chancellor Angela Merkel's cell phone. In July, American intelligence again promised to abide by all agreements between the two nations.

In tapping Chancellor Merkel's cell phone, the NSA clearly broke an intergovernmental agreement between the U.S. and Germany. In addition, the NSA lied to its German ally at least twice in so doing, causing considerable consternation in German government circles.

In April 2002, the NSA guaranteed in a written memorandum of agreement that it would abide by German laws governing the privacy of telephonic and electronic communications. NSA monitoring of Merkel's cell phone began that same year.

Then Chancellery Minister Ronald Pofalla cited the agreement in a press statement last summer and assured that the Americans were abiding by German statutes and not eavesdropping on any communications between German citizens.