John Kerry: "Every country in the world that is engaged in international affairs of national security undertakes lots of activities to protect its national security"
Hollande: Bugging Allegations Threaten EU-US Trade Pact -- BBC
French President Francois Hollande has said allegations that the US bugged European embassies could threaten a huge planned trade deal.
Negotiations over the EU-US pact, the biggest bilateral deal ever negotiated, are due to start on 8 July.
Mr Hollande said there could be no negotiations without guarantees spying would stop "immediately".
US Secretary of State John Kerry said earlier that activities to protect national security were "not unusual".
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said "bugging friends is unacceptable... we are no longer in the Cold War".
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My Comment: The NSA scandal may not be "unusual" for US Sec. of State Kerry .... but for many Europeans this behavior is completely unacceptable.
Update: Con Coughlin sums it up best.
I still think the backlash from leading European politicians is a touch 'light'.
ReplyDeleteIf I was a leader of a powerful EU country, and discovered with credible evidence that I was spied on by the US along with other EU politicians, the language and harshness would be apparent. I would make it very clear that relations with the current administration will take a deep plunge and work with other politicians to make them realize just how serious the situation is..
Sadly, nobody has the cahoona's big enough to throw such language towards the US and the Obama administration, nor is the media willing to take it on.
If this sort of behaviour is tolerated from the US by the victims of those who are being spied on, then it is sending a clear message to the US that the storm has passed and they can continue on with their spying.
Could not have said it any better D. Plowman
ReplyDeleteThis whole thing reminds me of that film, Enemy of the State, which strangely mirrors whats happening now and what the NSA is capable of.
ReplyDeleteGood film though.