It's time the US accepted reality (China Daily Editorial)

China Daily ^ | 06/26/2013 | Mike Bastin

[TexGrill]

The dust appears to have settled on the spying accusations leveled at Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE by the US government. Espionage, however, remains very much front-page news with Edward Snowden, former CIA agent and US National Security Agency contractor, leaking highly controversial documents to the international media.

Essentially, Snowden has blown the cover of a project named Prism, which allows the US government to spy on Internet activities around the world. This appears to be a different espionage story from that of Huawei and ZTE, but the two are related. In fact, it may well be that they are part of the same story, which has little to do with US national security and prevention of terrorism, and everything to do with the inevitable decline of the US as an economic superpower.

According to the documents Snowden has leaked, the NSA has been collecting astronomical amounts of information from ordinary citizens' online activities with the aid of American IT giants such as Google, Yahoo, Facebook and Apple over the past six years. Files leaked by Snowden reveal that almost 3 billion pieces of information from around the world were collected through project Prism in only 30 days ending in March this year.

What is really behind such covert, intrusive activity on such a massive scale? Of course, the US government has been quick to downplay the scope of project Prism, while attempting to steer the media frenzy toward security and terrorism issues.

[TexGrill]

I met Mike Bastin, CD columnist a few years ago. He was British and at that time loved Obummer and talking about Barry being his globalist messiah. After Snowden exposed details on Prism he's now become disillusioned about Obummer.

[doc1019]

It's time the US accepted reality

We have and idiot in charge.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Focus.

While China is promoting this, it is a diversion.

China is abusing American trade. More all the time.

[indthkr]

Chicom / Lefty point of view on PRISM

[Dogbert41]

He was a CIA agen now? Impressive!

[schm0e]

Focus. While China is promoting this, it is a diversion. China is abusing American trade. More all the time.

Inclined to agree. me doth think they're chattering a bit too much about this...

[cunning_fish]

>>>>Focus.

While China is promoting this, it is a diversion.

China is abusing American trade. More all the time.<<<<

Do you really think it is China who has to work for a trade balance positive for United States?

Last time I’ve check it was a job for US businesses and government.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I agree 100%.

Our businesses need to return to America.

Stop sending businesses to China. 100% right. :D

[Southack]

Bastin got it wrong. The NSA isn’t spying because it is worried about declining U.S. corporate power as he claims.

[TexGrill]

I disagree: NSA wants to help Obummer’s corporate donors get some major cash flow and info. from Prism.

[Southack]

You are missing the reason.

[RC one]

Oversimplified, it represents our continued plunge into authoritarianism/totalitarianism with elements of Stalinism and fascism and our departure from constitutional republican values.

I'm the government your forefathers warned you about.

[Southack]

Safe to say. Corporate donor fatcats making profits ain’t the reason, fer shure!

[RC one]

seems like it would be an excellent way to spy on your political opposition.

[Southack]

Surely you don’t mean like reading Petraeus’s emails so that you can out him for having an affair!

[RC one]

I think that’s probably just the tip of the iceberg.

[Eagles6]

Exactly.