Posted on 12/30/2015 5:18:07 AM PST by SJackson
U.S. spying programs scooped up communications between members of Congress and Israeli leaders, giving the White House insight into Israel's lobbying of U.S. lawmakers against the Iran nuclear deal, current and former U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal.
The article, published Tuesday afternoon, reports that the U.S. continued to spy on select leaders of allied nations despite President Barack Obama's pledge to curb such surveillance two years ago, and that it was a top priority to maintain spying on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.
As part of that continued surveillance, the National Security Agency also swept up communication showing Israeli officials trying to turn lawmakers against the international deal that curbed Iran's nuclear capabilities, the article said.
One senior U.S. official described the discovery of the swept-up communication as an "Oh s-- moment" and feared that the executive branch would be accused of spying on Congress.
According to the report, Obama administration officials thought the information it uncovered could potentially counteract Netanyahu's crusade to stop the nuclear deal. But rather than make a formal request to the NSA for the back-and-forth, an official said, the White House opted to allow the NSA to decide on its own -- without leaving a paper trail by submitting a formal request.
"We didn't say, 'Do it,'" a senior U.S. official told the newspaper. "We didn't say, 'Don't do it.'"
The report said the NSA removed the names of the lawmakers and personal information, as well as "trash talk" about the White House.
Officials said Obama insisted that keeping tabs on Netanyahu served a "compelling national security purpose." In a speech, Obama alluded to an exception for certain leaders but didn't name any specific individuals.
Behind closed doors, the White House agreed on which allied leaders would be exempt from surveillance, such as French President François Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders, the report said. But the administration still allowed the NSA to target their advisers, officials told the Journal, as well as other allies, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Wall Street Journal conducted interviews with more than two dozen current and former U.S. intelligence officials. Government officials representing Israel, Germany and France all declined to comment to the Journal. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the NSA also declined.
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If the NSA was providing information on Israeli official and Congressmen vis a vis positions on Iran, the spying was obviously ordered by the administration. The excuse in some publications that the Congressmen were collateral proves this, spying on Israeli officials up to Netanyahu was deliberate. And I wouldn't believe for a minute Congress wasn't either. The Wall St Journal article which is more detailed and may be available without subscription.
I read this earlier on Drudge and the ‘meat’ of the article which spends most of its time trying to absolve the White House on interference with the NSA and it, trying to still retain their illegal spying capabilities, proffers evidence of some communications between congressional staffers and Israeli embassy staff as proof of some cabal like spy conspiracy. The communications in question regarded an appearance before Congress by Bibi....
Frankly, this whole thing is “squirrel!” BS and evidence that the WH and NSA are still Spying!
using the IRS against political enemies, spying on congress; Watergate II
If they’d found anything improper between Israel and Congress you’d have read it on page 1 in the New York Times. Worth noting that some of the Congressmen under surveillance, talking to Israelis under surveillance per the administration, are likely Democrats.
It was perfectly legal for the NSA to spy on members of Congress in this case, because the spying activities involved surveillance of phone calls outside the U.S.
This brings up a very important question: Why would members of Congress be conducting the nation's business like this? If the NSA could record these phone conversations, then so could the intelligence agents of at least several dozen other countries.
No kidding. Nixon was an “A” ball minor-leaguer compared to these people.
If it's legal for the Executive branch to spy on the Congress, then it should be legal for Congress to spy on the Executive branch. Obama has converted the NSA and IRS into his own pretorian guard to intimidate both private citizens and Congress. And meanwhile, surprise surprise, with the NSA busy attempting to get dirt on Obama's political enemies, these same spy agencies manage to miss the next terrorist attack on this country.
‘...on select leaders of allied nations...’
I assume that former Prime Minister Harper was one of the ‘select’ leaders... His support for Israel was unwavering and adamant. That’s ok though, because we’re probably spying on you too.
Yes... but Nixon was a Republican and the liberal press didn’t like him. They love Obama and ignore his ineptness, his inexperience, his lack of morals, his lack of a personality, his lack of accomplishment, his lack of leadership, his lack of a backbone, his lack of, his lack of, so on, so forth. It’s pathetic and sad and it will continue on until the Republican’s deliver a true leader, a leader who can overcome the leftist press who managed to get this halfwit elected two times in a row.
Not a talk-show host or religious zealot. They need another Ronald Regan to remove the stench of this pathetic presidency. So far, I don’t see him in the pool of jokesters currently running for the job. I do believe that Sarah Palin would be able to overcome the leftist press, but unfortunately she’s not running.
According to this article (or another one on the same topic), the NSA surveillance of Israel’s leadership was done with the approval of whatever Congressional intelligence committee(s) has oversight responsibilities for the NSA program.
Seriously? You really think that hasn't been going A. since the inception of the IRS and B. since the inception of congress? Tell me you don't believe Nixon was the first or last until oslama.
seriously? so that makes it okay?? or the fact the left wing media covers up for the POS in the WH?
Seriously? Who said it makes it okay? Pointing out that an activity has been going on waaaaaay longer than the Nixon Administration is in now way an endorsement of said activity. It is simply pointing out the fallacy that is perpetuated that Nixon was somehow different in gathering intell or using government agencies than all who preceded, or followed him.
LOL- please link to where i said Nixon perpetuated anything...TIA
It is simply pointing out the fallacy that is perpetuated that Nixon was somehow different in gathering intell or using government agencies than all who preceded, or followed him.
I don't see is in my statement but I fail to see the words you or you're
And might I recommend that if you are having a transient ischemic attack you get medical attention post haste.
Wow you really stung deep, is that the best you can do, calling me an obama defender? Not enough imagination to throw in Bush, McCain and Clinton? It seems to me that spinning is your forte, but then again maybe you’re just an agitator that thinks he is good at playing mind games but never quite manages more than a tiddly wink level of performance. Live long, laugh often, have a happy new year and oh, yeah, work on your game.
stung? nah- just laughing watching you try and spin out of stupidity...
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