US secretly listens to Merkel's telephone calls - Merkel "not amused"

[minionofmidas]

Well, that is justified; monitoring domestic Muslim terrorism.

Anyways, why is this news here only because Germany is just as affected as all other allies of America? It's not as if the same wasn't public record regarding the heads of government of several other American allies already.

[minionofmidas]

The German government's reaction is perhaps noteworthy though because it is among the most hypocritical in the world.

The German government is among the most hypocritical in the world.

[minionofmidas]

The German government's reaction is perhaps noteworthy though because it is among the most hypocritical in the world.

The German government is among the most hypocritical in the world.

I think he was talking about the old GDR, which defined mass surveillance.

Well, he wasn't.

[minionofmidas]

Is there any US ally whose phone we're not tapping?

I doubt it.

[minionofmidas]

The point of spying agencies is to gather information on foreign governments. This isn't controversial.

Controversial enough for the European Parliament to vote to suspend the SWIFT agreement and for the SPD to demand a suspension of TTIP negoatitions with the U.S.

Bey hey, there's always some collateral damage to be expected...

Well, obviously. Things like the SWIFT agreement or military bases abroad in peacetime do not belong in a world in which

The point of spying agencies is to gather information on foreign governments. This isn't controversial.

is true.

[minionofmidas]

As a bonus, it is apparently easier to figure out how to tap the Bundeskanzler's phone than to write a program that allows US citizens to purchase medical insurance over the internet.  Who knew?

No. It's just that the US has been spending a lot more on it and hasn't outsourced the task peacemeal.

[minionofmidas]

Which is why the German government's reaction is pretty half-assed. I mean, they invited the spies who spy on them into our country in the first place.

I honestly think the only acceptable (though not an even theoretically feasible) outcome is to bang up in jail for an extended all those responsible - on the German government side that is. That includes the relevant people (chancellor, interior minister, foreign minister) of the Schröder as well as both Merkel cabinets, of course.

[minionofmidas]

lol.

[minionofmidas]

It had a democratic constitution... that almost the entire rightwing half of the population never accepted (this includes even the DVP). That's like saying Spain in the early 30s was a democratic country.