Germany Demands Top U.S. Official Leave Country Over NSA Spying Allegations
Jul 11, 2014 08:41:37 #
BERLIN (MCT) In a move that sounds as if it was ripped from a Cold War thriller, American ally and NATO member Germany on Thursday demanded that the top U.S. intelligence official stationed here leave the country over new allegations of U.S. spying.
It is the first time an American intelligence chief has been expelled from a NATO country since 1995, when one was expelled from Paris over allegations of economic espionage.
The German government did not identify the American by name. But the description of the top American intelligence official could apply only to the CIAs chief of station, who generally operates under diplomatic cover from an embassy.
U.S. officials offered only limited comment. White House press secretary Josh Earnest, in Texas with President Barack Obama, said that Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had not spoken since July 3, before news broke that German authorities were investigating two new cases of U.S. spying.
Earnest said Germany and the United States continue to cooperate at a variety of levels.
The strength of our national security relationship with Germany is important to American national security; its also important to the national security of the Germans, he said.
In a statement issued late Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in Berlin said that officials were aware of the German request that the intelligence official leave Germany. But it said there would be no comment on intelligence matters.
However, our security relationship with Germany remains very important: it keeps Germans and Americans safe, the statement said. It is also essential that our close cooperation with our German government partners continue in all areas.
The demand for the officials departure was the most forceful response yet from an outraged German government to a growing U.S. spy scandal that began last year with the discovery that the National Security Agency was monitoring the communications of millions of Germans, including listening in on Merkels cellphone. Over the past week, German authorities have said they are investigating two new instances of spying, including one that targeted the parliamentary committee probing NSA eavesdropping.
The request came one day after German officials announced an investigation into a low-level German military official suspected of selling military secrets to the United States. The announcement of that investigation came less than a week after a low-level German Foreign Intelligence Service official reportedly admitted selling to the NSA secret details of the parliamentary committees probe.
The two spying investigations come at the end of a year in which Germans have had to digest a long series of reports of American spying in Germany. The allegations began with the release of documents by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden that revealed the breadth of U.S. espionage operations in Germany.
U.S. officials, including Obama, have tried to assuage growing German anger, particularly after the revelation that the NSA had been intercepting Merkels cellphone for years. In January, Obama even issued a statement saying that we will not monitor the communications of heads of state and government of our close friends and allies.
But the revelation of the new U.S. spying efforts renewed expressions of anger and disbelief from German officials.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Merkel said the reports of U.S. spying reminded her of Cold War times, when you mistrusted each other. She also said the spying efforts defied common sense and that spying on allies was a waste of energy.
Other German politicians said the ejection of the American official was not enough and that Germany should do more to send a strong message.
http://personalliberty.com/germany-demands-top-u-s-official-leave-country-nsa-spying-allegations/
It is the first time an American intelligence chief has been expelled from a NATO country since 1995, when one was expelled from Paris over allegations of economic espionage.
The German government did not identify the American by name. But the description of the top American intelligence official could apply only to the CIAs chief of station, who generally operates under diplomatic cover from an embassy.
U.S. officials offered only limited comment. White House press secretary Josh Earnest, in Texas with President Barack Obama, said that Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had not spoken since July 3, before news broke that German authorities were investigating two new cases of U.S. spying.
Earnest said Germany and the United States continue to cooperate at a variety of levels.
The strength of our national security relationship with Germany is important to American national security; its also important to the national security of the Germans, he said.
In a statement issued late Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in Berlin said that officials were aware of the German request that the intelligence official leave Germany. But it said there would be no comment on intelligence matters.
However, our security relationship with Germany remains very important: it keeps Germans and Americans safe, the statement said. It is also essential that our close cooperation with our German government partners continue in all areas.
The demand for the officials departure was the most forceful response yet from an outraged German government to a growing U.S. spy scandal that began last year with the discovery that the National Security Agency was monitoring the communications of millions of Germans, including listening in on Merkels cellphone. Over the past week, German authorities have said they are investigating two new instances of spying, including one that targeted the parliamentary committee probing NSA eavesdropping.
The request came one day after German officials announced an investigation into a low-level German military official suspected of selling military secrets to the United States. The announcement of that investigation came less than a week after a low-level German Foreign Intelligence Service official reportedly admitted selling to the NSA secret details of the parliamentary committees probe.
The two spying investigations come at the end of a year in which Germans have had to digest a long series of reports of American spying in Germany. The allegations began with the release of documents by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden that revealed the breadth of U.S. espionage operations in Germany.
U.S. officials, including Obama, have tried to assuage growing German anger, particularly after the revelation that the NSA had been intercepting Merkels cellphone for years. In January, Obama even issued a statement saying that we will not monitor the communications of heads of state and government of our close friends and allies.
But the revelation of the new U.S. spying efforts renewed expressions of anger and disbelief from German officials.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Merkel said the reports of U.S. spying reminded her of Cold War times, when you mistrusted each other. She also said the spying efforts defied common sense and that spying on allies was a waste of energy.
Other German politicians said the ejection of the American official was not enough and that Germany should do more to send a strong message.
http://personalliberty.com/germany-demands-top-u-s-official-leave-country-nsa-spying-allegations/
Jul 12, 2014 09:46:17 #
leevette
Loc: Florida
Obviously our socalled U.S.A. "spies" are NOT doing a very good job! They are NOT supposed to get "caught"! Their "cover" was NOT good enough! Live and learn!!!!
Jul 12, 2014 12:59:41 #
bmac32 wrote:
BERLIN (MCT) In a move that sounds as if it was ... (show quote)
Maybe the NSA should read the book on "How to Win Friends and Influence People" because we are really influencing people only all in the negative light instead of the positive light.
Check out topic: The Biden Reelection Strategy-
Jul 12, 2014 21:41:30 #
From what I read France may be next so it's like rebuilding will be in line for the next president.
bahmer wrote:
Maybe the NSA should read the book on "How to Win Friends and Influence People" because we are really influencing people only all in the negative light instead of the positive light.
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