How can NSA tap something in Germany?
Barack Obama 'approved tapping Angela Merkel's phone 3 years ago'
21–30 of 34 posts
Re: Barack Obama 'approved tapping Angela Merkel's phone 3 years ago'
#22wow. just yesterday they tried to pin it on Bush.
The article makes, or at least reports, the following claims about the tapping of Merkel's phone: (1) it began in 2002 (when, yes, GWB was in office), (2) Obama was told about it in 2010, and (3) at that time he approved it and allowed it to continue. If all this is true, then it seems to me it's perfectly fair to "pin it on Bush" and to blame Obama for the fact that it continued past 2010. It also seems worth remark…
Yes, "they both suck" is a reasonable conclusion.
Re: Barack Obama 'approved tapping Angela Merkel's phone 3 years ago'
#23It so desperately disappointing when a man who was elected largely for his understanding and respect for the constitution turns out to have been systematically dumping over it for the last few years. Like so many people, I expected better of Obama. He's not the man I thought he was.
FWIW, spying on the leader of a foreign nation is not in anyway dumping on the constitution. Not going to make commentary on other programs, those are a completely different matter, but spying on the leaders of other nations, allies or not, is not illegal nor should it be surprising.
I agree. Just like LanceH said, it's bad form to get caught, but in all honesty, this is the NSA's job. To gather forgien intelligence.
Re: Barack Obama 'approved tapping Angela Merkel's phone 3 years ago'
#24Most people expect and accept "007-style" spying for security purposes. But exactly what kind of threat are Germany, France and Brasil to the US? The general suspicion in these countries is that the main motive behind the overzealous NSA activities is state sponsored industrial espionage, which is completely unacceptable.
Re: Barack Obama 'approved tapping Angela Merkel's phone 3 years ago'
#25If you want to understand why Merkel - and people from all political leanings - are so upset, just watch "The Lives of Others" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3_iLOp6IhM
Re: Barack Obama 'approved tapping Angela Merkel's phone 3 years ago'
#26This just shows he is willing to lie to get his way. Again can't be trusted. He told Merkel that if he knew, he would have stopped it. That's the smoking gun. Proves he lied. http://weaselzippers.us/2013/10/26/breaking-report-obama-lie...
So long as both of the anonymously sourced stories are true... We don't know what Obama said and we don't know what Obama approved. For that matter, we don't know what the NSA actually did. It's safe to say that the NSA has been using their "required to fight terrorism" programs for non-terrorism spying, but beyond that everything is murky.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose internal discussions
Thats from the NYT article explaining how his AG lied to the SCOTUS until the snowden leaks forced his hand. Seems like a bit of a pattern. Multiple reporters, multiple countries, multiple public figures. The common thread is blatant lying with a straight face? I dunno...
Re: Barack Obama 'approved tapping Angela Merkel's phone 3 years ago'
#27How can NSA tap something in Germany?
That is what Germany wants to know.
Re: Barack Obama 'approved tapping Angela Merkel's phone 3 years ago'
#28Wow, who could have thought she was a terrorist. Good disguise.
You know what would be funny? Tapping the Nobel Peace prize committee.
Re: Barack Obama 'approved tapping Angela Merkel's phone 3 years ago'
#29The only good thing about the mess that is Obama's presidency is that people might finally learn that it generally doesn't matter who you elect, most presidents and politicians will act similarly. Politicians tell the country what they think >50% of them want to hear, then do whatever they want in office. While the things Obama and his administration (and Bush's!) have been doing are awful, I've enjoyed watching the…
> whatever they want in office
are you sure it's what they want?
Re: Barack Obama 'approved tapping Angela Merkel's phone 3 years ago'
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
Politicians are only true to their "roots" when they're in opposition. Once in power that all quickly goes out the window for "expedience" to "solve" the problems we currently face, and to not let the opposition get in a word edgewise. Pay attention and you'll see that people from both parties do it consistently. Once you recognize that the only reasonable conclusion to come to is that you can't vote republican or de…
RMS for president, then?
God no. The only thing worse than a liar in power is a zealot.