Posted on 10/24/2013 6:07:36 AM PDT by marthemaria
German Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded answers from President Barack Obama on Wednesday after learning US spies may have monitored her phone, warning this would be "breach of trust" between allies.
The White House, rattled by the latest exposure based on leaks from intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, said it is not now listening in on Merkel, but did not deny the possibility her communications may have been intercepted in the past.
In the wake of Snowden's ongoing revelations, several more key US countries have already complained about American electronic surveillance, and the White House is struggling to stem the diplomatic damage.
A spokesman for Merkel, who has registered strong disapproval at US National Security Agency activities in the past, said his boss had called Obama after Germany received information that US intelligence may be spying on her mobile phone.
Steffen Seibert said in a statement that Merkel "made clear that she unequivocally disapproves of such practices, should they be confirmed, and regards them as completely unacceptable".
She had demanded "an immediate and comprehensive explanation" from Washington, the statement said.
"Among close friends and partners, as the Federal Republic of Germany and the US have been for decades, there should be no such monitoring of the communications of a head of government," the statement added, indirectly citing Merkel's comments to Obama.
"This would be a serious breach of trust."
"Such practices must be stopped immediately," the German chancellor told Obama, the statement said.
The White House, embarrassed by the latest allegations of NSA spying on foreign leaders, came up with a hurried response to the telephone call.
"The President assured the Chancellor that the United States is not monitoring and will not monitor the communications of Chancellor Merkel," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Let me guess: Obie didn’t know anything about it, and nobody is more upset about it than he...
Sheesh...
I believe Carney came out yesterday saying, to the effect, “We are not listening in on her, and we will not....”, but did not deny it had been done in the past.
OOOPS I see that at the end of the article posted. COFFEE RUN
This is what happens when you elect a president for the color of his skin.
There is one thing about the federal government you can believe in.
If they have the ability to do something, they will do it.
Regardless of restrictions, rules, laws and the US Constitution to the contrary, if they have a power or a capability, they will use it.
merkel quizzes urkel?
Someone needs to educate Chancellor Merkel on the dynamics of “alliances” with Obama. Unless you are a murderous Marxist or headchopping muslim, you do not qualify as an Obama “ally.” Your value stops when Obama no longer regards you as of any use to him.
Yet, no embarrassment or false-outrage over the fact that Merkel’s phone could be compromised by the US? Angie needs a new phone and a new tech crew.
To me, it looks like Angie is pissed off that the Germans can’t compromise Obamugabe’s phone.
This one is tepid tea water.
Ah.. a little Clintonian weasel word play. "the U.S. is not monitoring..."
But what about up until the nanosecond of that statement?
If this is legit it is just terrible. One can imagine how the NSA acts against its own people if they wiretap embassies and other stateleaders.
Really? I have no problem with our government gathering intell outside our country, and if you don’t think America has been spying on everyone, allies included, forever I think you are being naive. I get pissed with the domestic spying on American citizens.
Barry is looking for dirt on Angela for political advantage. Its what he does.
Merkel: "Yes, it is."
Obama: "You better run after it."
Obama: (snicker...snort...guffaw, etc.)
Merkel: Quit bothering me. You are such a _________.
Chancellor Angela Merkel calls Barack Obama and says: Hello Barack, how am I doing?
------------------------------------->
Depends on what the meaning of "is not" means./s
I don’t think our Allies are upset that we are spying on them.....they know we do.....but they are upset that this Administration is so incompetent, that it got out.
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