Posted on 07/08/2015 2:32:05 PM PDT by Olog-hai
The German-American friendship no longer exists. It may still remain between citizens of both countries, but not between their governments. Perhaps it has always been an illusion; perhaps the United States pulled away over the course of time. But what binds these two nations today cannot be considered friendship. Openness and fairness are part of the essence of friendship, which is about mutual respect and trust. A quarter century after the United States helped the German people restore their national unity, little remains of this friendship.
As new documents from WikiLeaks and reporting by Spiegel show, the NSA has been systematically spying on much of the German government. America’s spies not only listened in on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s private conversations about sensitive political issues. The NSA also bugged ministries, ministerial offices and other government agencies. Not even journalism is sacred to the Americans—at least not in Germany. American spies monitored at least one Spiegel colleague in Berlin—spies who represent a country that considers itself a guarantor of freedom of the press, one of the cornerstones of a liberal democracy. …
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
That’s OK. Der Spiegel is an unabashed propagandist for the Social Democrats over there.
They all know that the spying takes place. However, the gentleman’s agreement is that if you are sloppy, and it comes to light, then you will be hung out to dry.
Undoubtedly one of Putin’s paid sock puppets.
Years ago I was chief honcho of a local government enforcing agency. I made it very clear to all staff that what we did was public info and done for the public interests. However, it was also clear that such did not mean that the business we conducted was like a public newsstand. There were times when staff had to be reminded of this principle and likewise there were times that public disclosure of our actions was just that; public business is a public’s right to know when asked about such. If confidentiality became a question legal counseling was available and used.
There seem to be many people who don’t like the U.S. government.
Merkel grew up and was part of EAST Germany culture.
Und merkt euch, wie der Teufel spasse.
— Mephistopheles in Auerbachs Keller.
... The US began systematically spying on the German government at least since 1999... (perhaps even earlier)Yeah. Earlier. 1941.
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