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unhappycamper
unhappycamper's Journal
unhappycamper's Journal
October 29, 2013
Encouraging citizens to chose between a free press and national security is 'a false choice,' capable of undermining democracy.
If Obama Is the Spy, Then It’s Not a Crime
Il Giornale, Italy
By Gian Micalessin
Translated By Anna Carapellotti
21 October 2013
The head of The Associated Press accuses him of being “false and a killer of freedom.” Why oversee everything? And no chic radicals complain.
This does not make him a dictator, but it comes close enough. And in any case, for Barack Obama to get to the White House by accusing his predecessor of being opaque and promising that the next four years would be characterized by sincerity and absolute transparency is terribly contradictory.
He has received the title of the worst enemy of the free press in the 167 years of U.S. history, and not from some enthusiastic supporter of the tea party this time, but from Gary Pruitt, the president of The Associated Press, the news agency that is king of the information world. The usual grievances were not behind the attack launched at Obama during the Inter-American Press Association General Assembly, however. Rather, it was anger and resentment over the National Security Agency's covert operation in 2012, when it sieved through phone calls, emails and other forms of communication used by a large number of journalists from Pruitt’s agency. Surveillance began after a leak from AP regarding an attack, organized in Yemen by al-Qaida groups and intended to strike a trans-Atlantic flight en route to the United States. Surveillance was authorized by the White House to figure out how and who was successfully able to get past the official line by the president and secret service, according to which an immediate threat of attack on American soil did not exist at the time. If we hear Pruitt out, the interception of AP communications was not a surgical operation addressing a number of restricted objectives. It was, once again, “overbroad, sloppy and a fishing expedition into a wide spectrum of AP news journalism and journalists — most of whom had nothing to do with the issues in question here.”
The jabs do not stop here. For Pruitt, encouraging citizens to chose between a free press and national security is “a false choice,” capable of undermining democracy. “The actions by the Department of Justice could not have been more tailor-made to comfort authoritarian regimes who want to suppress the news media,” thundered AP's number one, highlighting how the mere presence of a free and independent press “differentiates democracy from dictatorship; separates a free society from tyranny.” Behind his jab at Obama, there is, however, a carefully chosen time and place, more congenial than a precisely served vendetta: The stab was delivered in the middle of a U.S. press assembly that brings together not only American journalists, but also those from Latin American countries. And for this last bit: The news of the day, discussed until the moment we heard Pruitt, was a leak revealing that, in 2010, NSA spies also stuck their noses into the computers of Felipe Calderon, [then] current president of Mexico, and his entourage. The operation dubbed “Flatliquid,” a large portion of the information that emerged in the course of "Datagate," is described in the files of the mole Edward Snowden.
If Obama Is the Spy, Then It’s Not a Crime
http://watchingamerica.com/News/224795/if-obama-is-the-spythen-its-not-a-crime/Encouraging citizens to chose between a free press and national security is 'a false choice,' capable of undermining democracy.
If Obama Is the Spy, Then It’s Not a Crime
Il Giornale, Italy
By Gian Micalessin
Translated By Anna Carapellotti
21 October 2013
The head of The Associated Press accuses him of being “false and a killer of freedom.” Why oversee everything? And no chic radicals complain.
This does not make him a dictator, but it comes close enough. And in any case, for Barack Obama to get to the White House by accusing his predecessor of being opaque and promising that the next four years would be characterized by sincerity and absolute transparency is terribly contradictory.
He has received the title of the worst enemy of the free press in the 167 years of U.S. history, and not from some enthusiastic supporter of the tea party this time, but from Gary Pruitt, the president of The Associated Press, the news agency that is king of the information world. The usual grievances were not behind the attack launched at Obama during the Inter-American Press Association General Assembly, however. Rather, it was anger and resentment over the National Security Agency's covert operation in 2012, when it sieved through phone calls, emails and other forms of communication used by a large number of journalists from Pruitt’s agency. Surveillance began after a leak from AP regarding an attack, organized in Yemen by al-Qaida groups and intended to strike a trans-Atlantic flight en route to the United States. Surveillance was authorized by the White House to figure out how and who was successfully able to get past the official line by the president and secret service, according to which an immediate threat of attack on American soil did not exist at the time. If we hear Pruitt out, the interception of AP communications was not a surgical operation addressing a number of restricted objectives. It was, once again, “overbroad, sloppy and a fishing expedition into a wide spectrum of AP news journalism and journalists — most of whom had nothing to do with the issues in question here.”
The jabs do not stop here. For Pruitt, encouraging citizens to chose between a free press and national security is “a false choice,” capable of undermining democracy. “The actions by the Department of Justice could not have been more tailor-made to comfort authoritarian regimes who want to suppress the news media,” thundered AP's number one, highlighting how the mere presence of a free and independent press “differentiates democracy from dictatorship; separates a free society from tyranny.” Behind his jab at Obama, there is, however, a carefully chosen time and place, more congenial than a precisely served vendetta: The stab was delivered in the middle of a U.S. press assembly that brings together not only American journalists, but also those from Latin American countries. And for this last bit: The news of the day, discussed until the moment we heard Pruitt, was a leak revealing that, in 2010, NSA spies also stuck their noses into the computers of Felipe Calderon, [then] current president of Mexico, and his entourage. The operation dubbed “Flatliquid,” a large portion of the information that emerged in the course of "Datagate," is described in the files of the mole Edward Snowden.
October 29, 2013
Classified document will also detail consequences of domestic and foreign spying revelations as anger mounts abroad
NSA review panel to present Obama with dossier on surveillance reforms
Paul Lewis in Washington
The Guardian, Monday 28 October 2013 14.48 EDT
Barack Obama will receive a classified dossier in the next two weeks that will lay out the consequences for US foreign relations of the National Security Agency's powerful surveillance apparatus and provide the White House with a raft of possible reforms.
The document is being drafted by a top-level group of experts appointed by the president to conduct an external review of US surveillance capabilities and the damage to public trust resulting from the Edward Snowden disclosures.
The review, parts of which will be declassified and released to the public, will be completed by mid-December. However, a senior administration official familiar with the process said a secret "interim report" will be shared with the president shortly.
The group's work has been delayed slightly because of the recent US government shutdown, but it is expected to submit the report to the president via the director of national intelligence, James Clapper, in the week beginning 11 November.
NSA review panel to present Obama with dossier on surveillance reforms
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/28/obama-nsa-dossier-classified-surveillanceClassified document will also detail consequences of domestic and foreign spying revelations as anger mounts abroad
NSA review panel to present Obama with dossier on surveillance reforms
Paul Lewis in Washington
The Guardian, Monday 28 October 2013 14.48 EDT
Barack Obama will receive a classified dossier in the next two weeks that will lay out the consequences for US foreign relations of the National Security Agency's powerful surveillance apparatus and provide the White House with a raft of possible reforms.
The document is being drafted by a top-level group of experts appointed by the president to conduct an external review of US surveillance capabilities and the damage to public trust resulting from the Edward Snowden disclosures.
The review, parts of which will be declassified and released to the public, will be completed by mid-December. However, a senior administration official familiar with the process said a secret "interim report" will be shared with the president shortly.
The group's work has been delayed slightly because of the recent US government shutdown, but it is expected to submit the report to the president via the director of national intelligence, James Clapper, in the week beginning 11 November.
October 29, 2013
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (3RD-L) speaks during a joint-meeting by Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters and Nuclear Power Disaster Management Council at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo
Fuk-‘hush’-ima: Japan’s new state secrets law gags whistleblowers, raises press freedom fears
Published time: October 25, 2013 09:02
Edited time: October 27, 2013 22:19
Many issues of national importance to Japan, probably including the state of the Fukushima power plant, may be designated state secrets under a new draft law. Once signed, it could see whistleblowers jailed for up to 10 years.
Japan has relatively lenient penalties for exposing state secrets compared to many other nations, but that may change with the introduction of the new law. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government has agreed on draft legislation on the issue on Friday and expects the parliament to vote on it during the current session, which ends on December 6.
With a comfortable majority in both chambers, the ruling coalition bloc would see no problems overcoming the opposition. Critics say the new law would give the executive too much power to conceal information from the public and compromise the freedom of the press.
Currently only issues of defense can be designated state secret in Japan, and non-military leakers face a jail term of up to one year. Defense officials may be sentenced to five years for exposing secrets, or 10 years, if the classified information they leaded came from the US military.
Fuk-‘hush’-ima: Japan’s new state secrets law gags whistleblowers, raises press freedom fears
http://rt.com/news/japan-state-secrets-law-712/Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (3RD-L) speaks during a joint-meeting by Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters and Nuclear Power Disaster Management Council at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo
Fuk-‘hush’-ima: Japan’s new state secrets law gags whistleblowers, raises press freedom fears
Published time: October 25, 2013 09:02
Edited time: October 27, 2013 22:19
Many issues of national importance to Japan, probably including the state of the Fukushima power plant, may be designated state secrets under a new draft law. Once signed, it could see whistleblowers jailed for up to 10 years.
Japan has relatively lenient penalties for exposing state secrets compared to many other nations, but that may change with the introduction of the new law. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government has agreed on draft legislation on the issue on Friday and expects the parliament to vote on it during the current session, which ends on December 6.
With a comfortable majority in both chambers, the ruling coalition bloc would see no problems overcoming the opposition. Critics say the new law would give the executive too much power to conceal information from the public and compromise the freedom of the press.
Currently only issues of defense can be designated state secret in Japan, and non-military leakers face a jail term of up to one year. Defense officials may be sentenced to five years for exposing secrets, or 10 years, if the classified information they leaded came from the US military.
October 29, 2013
Bank executives facing prison time for illegal activity would be better sanction than fine, say Wall Street reform advocates
With JPMorgan Under Spotlight, Growing Calls to Jail the Banksters
- Andrea Germanos, staff writer
Published on Monday, October 28, 2013 by Common Dreams
While JPMorgan Chase's $13 billion settlement for its "shady practices that five years ago helped trigger the financial meltdown, including manipulating mortgages and sending millions of Americans into bankruptcy or foreclosure" has gained attention for its record amount, a number of banking reform advocates are saying real accountability will come when executives are prosecuted and sent to jail for illegal activity.
As Matt Taibbi writes in Rolling Stone,
In addition, financial analyst and Naked Capitalism founder Yves Smith pointed out on Democracy Now! on Monday that the actual amount of the money to be paid is "still in flux," but that "only $3 billion of that is actually going to be a fine."
With JPMorgan Under Spotlight, Growing Calls to Jail the Banksters
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/10/28-4Bank executives facing prison time for illegal activity would be better sanction than fine, say Wall Street reform advocates
With JPMorgan Under Spotlight, Growing Calls to Jail the Banksters
- Andrea Germanos, staff writer
Published on Monday, October 28, 2013 by Common Dreams
While JPMorgan Chase's $13 billion settlement for its "shady practices that five years ago helped trigger the financial meltdown, including manipulating mortgages and sending millions of Americans into bankruptcy or foreclosure" has gained attention for its record amount, a number of banking reform advocates are saying real accountability will come when executives are prosecuted and sent to jail for illegal activity.
As Matt Taibbi writes in Rolling Stone,
(T)he key to this whole thing is that the punishment is just money, and not a crippling amount, and not from any individual's pocket, either. In fact, the deal that has just been completed between Chase and the state represents the end, or near the end, of a long process by which people who committed essentially the same crimes as Bernie Madoff will walk away without paying any individual penalty. (...)
(W]hile it is true that the federal government in this latest $13 billion settlement is ostensibly reserving the right to continue to pursue criminal charges, don't hold your breath. The arc of this story suggests that the whole purpose of this agreement has been to find the highest price Chase is willing to pay to a) stay in business b) keep employees out of jail.
In addition, financial analyst and Naked Capitalism founder Yves Smith pointed out on Democracy Now! on Monday that the actual amount of the money to be paid is "still in flux," but that "only $3 billion of that is actually going to be a fine."
October 29, 2013
Protect South Portland rallies in favor of the Waterfront Protection Ordinance
Big Oil's Bid to Crush Small Town Stand Against Tar Sands
- Sarah Lazare, staff writer
Published on Monday, October 28, 2013 by Common Dreams
Big Oil is sparing no expense in its bid to crush efforts by residents of South Portland, Maine who are taking the fossil fuel industry head-on to save their waterfront from tar sands.
Campaign finance reports revealed Friday that the oil industry has poured over $600,000 into a campaign to defeat the Waterfront Protection Ordinance—a land-use zoning ordinance up for referendum in the November election, that is backed by grassroots organizations and would block oil industry efforts to build a tar sands export facility.
The oil industry is likely to break all records on campaign spending in this coastal town of 25,000 people, out-spending local environmental and community groups six-to-one.
"Oil industry spending is completely over the top," said Robert Sellin, from the group Protect South Portland, in a phone interview with Common Dreams. "Clearly they have all the money. We are talking about some of the wealthiest corporations in the world. They do not want a community to stand up for itself. They are going to do everything they can to squash our initiative and discourage other jurisdictions."
Portland, ME: Big Oil's Bid to Crush Small Town Stand Against Tar Sands
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/10/28-2Protect South Portland rallies in favor of the Waterfront Protection Ordinance
Big Oil's Bid to Crush Small Town Stand Against Tar Sands
- Sarah Lazare, staff writer
Published on Monday, October 28, 2013 by Common Dreams
Big Oil is sparing no expense in its bid to crush efforts by residents of South Portland, Maine who are taking the fossil fuel industry head-on to save their waterfront from tar sands.
Campaign finance reports revealed Friday that the oil industry has poured over $600,000 into a campaign to defeat the Waterfront Protection Ordinance—a land-use zoning ordinance up for referendum in the November election, that is backed by grassroots organizations and would block oil industry efforts to build a tar sands export facility.
The oil industry is likely to break all records on campaign spending in this coastal town of 25,000 people, out-spending local environmental and community groups six-to-one.
"Oil industry spending is completely over the top," said Robert Sellin, from the group Protect South Portland, in a phone interview with Common Dreams. "Clearly they have all the money. We are talking about some of the wealthiest corporations in the world. They do not want a community to stand up for itself. They are going to do everything they can to squash our initiative and discourage other jurisdictions."
October 29, 2013
America’s Secret 4th Branch of Government: The NSA kept even Obama in the Dark
Posted on 10/28/2013 by Juan Cole
The revelation from the Snowden Papers that the National Security Agency had German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s personal cell phone under surveillance has produced a central fallout. Dueling leaks over the international embarrassment have forced the White House to a key admission: President Barack Obama did not know what the NSA was up to.
Ever since the Snowden revelations of the massive, world-girdling extent of NSA electronic surveillance surfaced, I have been wondering two things: Did they tell Obama about it when they took office in 2009? And, do they have something on Obama?
Outgoing NSA head Keith Alexander or his circle leaked to German tabloid Bild am Sonntag that Alexander had told Obama about the tap on Merkel’s personal phone in 2010 and that Obama asked for more information on Merkel at that time.
DeutscheWelle reports:
That leak forced the White House (and the NSA) to deny the allegation and to see Alexander his leak and raise the ante.
America’s Secret 4th Branch of Government: The NSA kept even Obama in the Dark
http://www.juancole.com/2013/10/americas-branch-government.htmlAmerica’s Secret 4th Branch of Government: The NSA kept even Obama in the Dark
Posted on 10/28/2013 by Juan Cole
The revelation from the Snowden Papers that the National Security Agency had German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s personal cell phone under surveillance has produced a central fallout. Dueling leaks over the international embarrassment have forced the White House to a key admission: President Barack Obama did not know what the NSA was up to.
Ever since the Snowden revelations of the massive, world-girdling extent of NSA electronic surveillance surfaced, I have been wondering two things: Did they tell Obama about it when they took office in 2009? And, do they have something on Obama?
Outgoing NSA head Keith Alexander or his circle leaked to German tabloid Bild am Sonntag that Alexander had told Obama about the tap on Merkel’s personal phone in 2010 and that Obama asked for more information on Merkel at that time.
DeutscheWelle reports:
That leak forced the White House (and the NSA) to deny the allegation and to see Alexander his leak and raise the ante.
October 29, 2013
Defense Department seeks to implant devices capable of stimulating depressed soldiers’ brains in real-time
By Scott Kaufman
Monday, October 28, 2013 15:36 EDT
The Pentagon’s cutting-edge research agency hopes to use electrical brain implants to treat a variety of mental conditions.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced its Systems-Based Neurotechnology for Emerging Therapies (SUBNETS) initiative this week. Its goal is to discover “the characteristics of distributed neural systems and attempt to develop and apply therapies that incorporate near real-time recording, analysis and stimulation in next-generation devices inspired by current Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).”
“Deep Brain Stimulation” devices already exists as a therapeutic tool for certain patients who are unresponsive to other therapies. Approximately 100,000 people worldwide currently live with DBS implants, which at this moment are only devices that deliver “electrical stimulation to reduce motor impairment,” but which DARPA believes can also be used to treat depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette’s, epilepsy, general anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“If SUBNETS is successful, it will advance neuropsychiatry beyond the realm of dialogue-driven observations and resultant trial and error and into the realm of therapy driven by quantifiable characteristics of neural state,” according to Justin Sanchez, DARPA program manager.
Defense Department seeks to implant devices capable of stimulating depressed soldiers’ brains in rea
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/28/defense-department-seeks-to-implant-devices-capable-of-stimulating-depressed-soldiers-brains-in-real-time/Defense Department seeks to implant devices capable of stimulating depressed soldiers’ brains in real-time
By Scott Kaufman
Monday, October 28, 2013 15:36 EDT
The Pentagon’s cutting-edge research agency hopes to use electrical brain implants to treat a variety of mental conditions.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced its Systems-Based Neurotechnology for Emerging Therapies (SUBNETS) initiative this week. Its goal is to discover “the characteristics of distributed neural systems and attempt to develop and apply therapies that incorporate near real-time recording, analysis and stimulation in next-generation devices inspired by current Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).”
“Deep Brain Stimulation” devices already exists as a therapeutic tool for certain patients who are unresponsive to other therapies. Approximately 100,000 people worldwide currently live with DBS implants, which at this moment are only devices that deliver “electrical stimulation to reduce motor impairment,” but which DARPA believes can also be used to treat depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette’s, epilepsy, general anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“If SUBNETS is successful, it will advance neuropsychiatry beyond the realm of dialogue-driven observations and resultant trial and error and into the realm of therapy driven by quantifiable characteristics of neural state,” according to Justin Sanchez, DARPA program manager.
October 29, 2013
Senate intelligence committee chair, who has been a loyal defender of the NSA, demands a ‘total’ surveillance review
Dianne Feinstein breaks ranks: ‘I am totally opposed’ to NSA spying on allies
By Paul Lewis, The Guardian
Monday, October 28, 2013 21:05 EDT
The chair of the Senate Intelligence committee, who has been a loyal defender of the National Security Agency, dramatically broke ranks on Monday, saying she was “totally opposed” to the US spying on allies and demanding a total review of all surveillance programs.
California Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein strongly criticised the NSA’s monitoring of the calls of friendly world leaders such as German chancellor Angela Merkel.
Feinstein, who has steadfastly defended the NSA’s mass surveillance programs, added that both Barack Obama and members of her committee, which is supposed to received classified briefings, had been kept in the dark about operations to target foreign leaders.
“It is abundantly clear that a total review of all intelligence programs is necessary so that members of the Senate Intelligence Committee are fully informed as to what is actually being carried out by the intelligence community,” Feinstein said in a statement to reporters. “Unlike NSA’s collection of phone records under a court order, it is clear to me that certain surveillance activities have been in effect for more than a decade and that the Senate Intelligence Committee was not satisfactorily informed.
Dianne Feinstein breaks ranks: ‘I am totally opposed’ to NSA spying on allies
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/28/dianne-feinstein-breaks-ranks-i-am-totally-opposed-to-nsa-spying-on-allies/Senate intelligence committee chair, who has been a loyal defender of the NSA, demands a ‘total’ surveillance review
Dianne Feinstein breaks ranks: ‘I am totally opposed’ to NSA spying on allies
By Paul Lewis, The Guardian
Monday, October 28, 2013 21:05 EDT
The chair of the Senate Intelligence committee, who has been a loyal defender of the National Security Agency, dramatically broke ranks on Monday, saying she was “totally opposed” to the US spying on allies and demanding a total review of all surveillance programs.
California Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein strongly criticised the NSA’s monitoring of the calls of friendly world leaders such as German chancellor Angela Merkel.
Feinstein, who has steadfastly defended the NSA’s mass surveillance programs, added that both Barack Obama and members of her committee, which is supposed to received classified briefings, had been kept in the dark about operations to target foreign leaders.
“It is abundantly clear that a total review of all intelligence programs is necessary so that members of the Senate Intelligence Committee are fully informed as to what is actually being carried out by the intelligence community,” Feinstein said in a statement to reporters. “Unlike NSA’s collection of phone records under a court order, it is clear to me that certain surveillance activities have been in effect for more than a decade and that the Senate Intelligence Committee was not satisfactorily informed.
October 28, 2013
Report: US monitored 60 million calls in Spain
By Ciaran Giles of The Associated Press
Monday, October 28, 2013 - 8:43 am
MADRID — A Spanish newspaper published a document Monday that it said shows the U.S. National Security Agency spied on more than 60 million phone calls in Spain in one month alone — the latest revelation about alleged massive U.S. spying on allies.
The El Mundo newspaper report comes a week after the French paper Le Monde reported similar allegations of U.S. spying in France and German magazine Der Spiegel reported that Washington tapped Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone. The leaders of Brazil and Mexico are also reported to have been spied on.
A European summit last week was dominated by anger over the reported extent of U.S. spying on allies and Germany was sending its spy chiefs to Washington to demand answers.
El Mundo said the bar graph document titled "Spain - Last 30 days" showed daily call traffic volume between Dec. 10, 2012, and Jan. 8, 2013. It says the NSA monitored the numbers and duration of the calls, but not their content. The document does not show the numbers.
Report: US monitored 60 million calls in Spain
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131028/NEWS/131029656Report: US monitored 60 million calls in Spain
By Ciaran Giles of The Associated Press
Monday, October 28, 2013 - 8:43 am
MADRID — A Spanish newspaper published a document Monday that it said shows the U.S. National Security Agency spied on more than 60 million phone calls in Spain in one month alone — the latest revelation about alleged massive U.S. spying on allies.
The El Mundo newspaper report comes a week after the French paper Le Monde reported similar allegations of U.S. spying in France and German magazine Der Spiegel reported that Washington tapped Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone. The leaders of Brazil and Mexico are also reported to have been spied on.
A European summit last week was dominated by anger over the reported extent of U.S. spying on allies and Germany was sending its spy chiefs to Washington to demand answers.
El Mundo said the bar graph document titled "Spain - Last 30 days" showed daily call traffic volume between Dec. 10, 2012, and Jan. 8, 2013. It says the NSA monitored the numbers and duration of the calls, but not their content. The document does not show the numbers.
October 28, 2013
As Europe erupts over US spying, NSA chief says government must stop media
OpEdNews Op Eds 10/26/2013 at 15:22:43
By Glenn Greenwald
The most under-discussed aspect of the NSA story has long been its international scope. That all changed this week as both Germany and France exploded with anger over new revelations about pervasive NSA surveillance on their population and democratically elected leaders.
~snip~
... First, note how leaders such as Chancellor Angela Merkel reacted with basic indifference when it was revealed months ago that the NSA was bulk-spying on all German citizens, but suddenly found her indignation only when it turned out that she personally was also targeted. That reaction gives potent insight into the true mindset of many western leaders.
... Second, all of these governments keep saying how newsworthy these revelations are, how profound are the violations they expose, how happy they are to learn of all this, how devoted they are to reform. If that's true, why are they allowing the person who enabled all these disclosures -- Edward Snowden -- to be targeted for persecution by the US government for the "crime" of blowing the whistle on all of this?
~snip~
... Third, is there any doubt at all that the US government repeatedly tried to mislead the world when insisting that this system of suspicionless surveillance was motivated by an attempt to protect Americans from The Terrorists(TM)? Our reporting has revealed spying on conferences designed to negotiate economic agreements, the Organization of American States, oil companies, ministries that oversee mines and energy resources, the democratically elected leaders of allied states, and entire populations in those states.
As Europe erupts over US spying, NSA chief says government must stop media
http://www.opednews.com/articles/As-Europe-erupts-over-US-s-by-Glenn-Greenwald-Freedoms_Government-Crime_Hypocrisy_NSA-131026-102.htmlAs Europe erupts over US spying, NSA chief says government must stop media
OpEdNews Op Eds 10/26/2013 at 15:22:43
By Glenn Greenwald
The most under-discussed aspect of the NSA story has long been its international scope. That all changed this week as both Germany and France exploded with anger over new revelations about pervasive NSA surveillance on their population and democratically elected leaders.
~snip~
... First, note how leaders such as Chancellor Angela Merkel reacted with basic indifference when it was revealed months ago that the NSA was bulk-spying on all German citizens, but suddenly found her indignation only when it turned out that she personally was also targeted. That reaction gives potent insight into the true mindset of many western leaders.
... Second, all of these governments keep saying how newsworthy these revelations are, how profound are the violations they expose, how happy they are to learn of all this, how devoted they are to reform. If that's true, why are they allowing the person who enabled all these disclosures -- Edward Snowden -- to be targeted for persecution by the US government for the "crime" of blowing the whistle on all of this?
~snip~
... Third, is there any doubt at all that the US government repeatedly tried to mislead the world when insisting that this system of suspicionless surveillance was motivated by an attempt to protect Americans from The Terrorists(TM)? Our reporting has revealed spying on conferences designed to negotiate economic agreements, the Organization of American States, oil companies, ministries that oversee mines and energy resources, the democratically elected leaders of allied states, and entire populations in those states.
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