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dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts) Mon Oct 21, 2013, 05:15 PM Oct 2013

White House Says ‘All Nations’ Spy, Vows to Review Espionage Tactics. [View all]

Source: Ria Novosti

WASHINGTON, October 21 (RIA Novosti) – The White House on Monday brushed off French outrage over a report in Le Monde newspaper that said the US National Security Agency (NSA) had intercepted tens of millions of phone calls made by French citizens, saying “all nations” engage in espionage activities and vowing to review the way it spies on others.

The United States “gathers foreign intelligence of the type gathered by all nations,” Caitlin Hayden, spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said at the White House after France summoned the US ambassador to Paris to explain the allegations in Le Monde – that the United States had “intercepted on a massive scale” telephone communications made by French citizens and companies.

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The report also said that, among the United States’ European allies, France was a top target for US intelligence gathering, along with Germany and Britain.

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State Department Spokeswoman Marie Harf addressed the French concerns at Monday’s daily news briefing, “Right now, we’re undertaking a review to determine what the best ways are to gather intelligence and what the balance should be,” Harf said.

Read more: http://en.ria.ru/world/20131022/184281954/White-House-Says-All-Nations-Spy-Vows-to-Review-Espionage-Tactics.html

Obviously got a short term memory problem given this threat was only issued 4 weeks ago :

EU threatens to halt terrorist fund tracking deal with US.

Anger continues to spread across Brussels over allegations that the United States has been spying on European Union citizens.

The latest public attack came on Tuesday when EU lawmakers called for the suspension of a controversial financial data sharing agreement between the European Union (EU) and the U.S. aimed at tracking terrorists' funds, after revelations that the U.S. tapped international bank transfer information of citizens in the 28-nation bloc.

European politicians were angered at the explosive reports revealed in German newspaper Spiegel, showing that the U.S. authorities are monitoring personal money transfer information, including bank and credit card transactions, raising further tension with Washington

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101064891

65 replies

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Highlight:

White House Says ‘All Nations’ Spy, Vows to Review Espionage Tactics. [View all] dipsydoodle Oct 2013 OP

So when our friend and neighbor jump off a cliff Rain Mcloud Oct 2013 #1

The French huffing and puffing over this is pretty amusing. geek tragedy Oct 2013 #2

Have you compared their spying budget to ours? MannyGoldstein Oct 2013 #5

Do you really think they're surprised to learn that the US geek tragedy Oct 2013 #6

Hmmm. We all know that the Mafia is up to no good. MannyGoldstein Oct 2013 #8

On a scale of 1-10, how shocked would you be to learn geek tragedy Oct 2013 #11

So, let's have an international protocol that puts an end to all of it. JDPriestly Oct 2013 #22

Sure, we can call it the "No spying on terrorists allowed act" nt geek tragedy Oct 2013 #23

The French intel agencies are pretty good. alfredo Oct 2013 #57

this is not the same spying that "all nations" do.... mike_c Oct 2013 #3

Why not eliminate spying, surveillance, etc. altogether? Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #10

Where were you on 9/11? ehcross Oct 2013 #56

You mean the terrorist attack caused by your own government? brisas2k Oct 2013 #60

So if outright elimination isn't the solution Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #64

Maybe not all nations, but the French do exactly the same thing geek tragedy Oct 2013 #12

and it's just as unacceptable as the U.S. surveillance program.... mike_c Oct 2013 #44

Maybe not all nations, but the French do exactly the same thing ehcross Oct 2013 #55

so it will be just fine when other nations do the same thing reddread Oct 2013 #4

They're already doing it, and will continue to do it geek tragedy Oct 2013 #7

then why is Ed Snowden an issue reddread Oct 2013 #9

Here or abroad? geek tragedy Oct 2013 #13

thank you reddread Oct 2013 #17

It's the vast scope of our program that troubles them. JDPriestly Oct 2013 #19

The only reason the French govt would be upset is because they think geek tragedy Oct 2013 #21

and what upsets decent Americans is unreasonable search and seizure reddread Oct 2013 #27

Sure, we have a right to demand that no one spy on us. geek tragedy Oct 2013 #30

what, you worry? reddread Oct 2013 #32

No we don't need to extend our constitutional beliefs overseas. geek tragedy Oct 2013 #34

good luck with that reddread Oct 2013 #38

"perfectly good intelligence" = "results of effective spying" nt geek tragedy Oct 2013 #39

"Decent Americans" should be upset about spying and covert warfare Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #31

ya think? reddread Oct 2013 #33

I'm just trying to correct the fallacy some have Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #37

oh yes, the simplest tools of technology will not go back in Pandora's box reddread Oct 2013 #40

So you're saying there is such a thing as legit surveillance and spying? Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #43

eh, what? Is that your hand up my butt? reddread Oct 2013 #45

My apologies then.. Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #46

sure reddread Oct 2013 #48

here you go Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #50

Yes, all decent people oppose spying on terrorists or otherwise geek tragedy Oct 2013 #35

i cant tell, are the words twisted? reddread Oct 2013 #41

the person is stating that we should never spy on anyone. geek tragedy Oct 2013 #42

youre right about that, although maybe you dont mean to be? reddread Oct 2013 #47

Gladio actually proves my point Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #51

thanks for elaborating reddread Oct 2013 #52

Glad you find all this funny Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #63

I know on the surface it sounds silly and absolutist Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #49

heres the deal, take it or leave it reddread Oct 2013 #54

I don't feel safer under them Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #62

you mean by "if"? reddread Oct 2013 #65

well, if everyone is doing it, it must be okay. olddad56 Oct 2013 #14

That's right. The good old #14. "Other countries" execute adulterers too. PSPS Oct 2013 #16

So what is your proposed solution to the issue? Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #26

I think the message is more of: Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #25

So "other countries" record and store for future use all of my email/phone calls/internet traffic? PSPS Oct 2013 #15

derp geek tragedy Oct 2013 #20

Tres bien! C'est chiffre quatorze! PSPS Oct 2013 #24

You have a deep emotional resentment of Obama supporters. geek tragedy Oct 2013 #28

Let's hope our Congress does something to bring this program into perspective. JDPriestly Oct 2013 #18

The cynic in me says Congress will do jack shit at the end of the day Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #29

Well duh! Of course they all do it. PeteSelman Oct 2013 #36

Thats true. iandhr Oct 2013 #53

All nations? So we should worry about Kiribati now? Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2013 #58

Caitlin Hayden loves to role play a 8 year old. /nt Ash_F Oct 2013 #59

This is the strongest possible reasonable response to being caught... Orsino Oct 2013 #61