Is The NSA's Spying Operations More Focused On Economics And Politics Than Terrorism?

RAF Menwith Hill base, which provides communications and intelligence support services to the United Kingdom and the U.S. is pictured near Harrogate, northern England (Reuters / Nigel Roddis)

EU Official Alleges NSA Sought Economic Edge For U.S. -- CBS

After two days of meetings in Washington -- including with the NSA chief -- European lawmakers said that President Obama must rein in surveillance.

European Union Commissioner for Justice Viviane Reding told CBS News that any surveillance without court approval would be criminal.

"Services are not on their own," she said. "They are based on laws which come from politicians and politicians should go back to control."

But neither Reding nor European lawmakers were able to say whether their intelligence agencies willingly gave the information to the NSA. German parliamentarian Elmar Brok said the U.S. operation to bug Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone crossed the line.

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My Comment: There is probably a lot of truth to the allegation that NSA spying has more to do with economics than fighting terrorists. But until someone comes out (like Edward Snowden) with evidence to prove this point .... this will just be speculation.

Update: Glenn Greenwald is saying the same thing .... NSA spying has nothing to do with terrorism, Greenwald tells Amanpour.