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NSA Monitored Calls of 35 World Leaders

Posted by Soulskill on from the days-since-NSA-diplomatic-incident:-0 dept.

Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes "The Guardian reports that the NSA monitored the phone conversations of 35 world leaders after being given the numbers by an official in another U.S. government department. According to a classified document provided by whistleblower Edward Snowden, the NSA encourages senior officials in its 'customer' departments, such the White House, State and the Pentagon, to share their 'Rolodexes' so the agency can add the phone numbers of leading foreign politicians to their surveillance systems. The NSA memo dated October 2006 that was obtained by the Guardian suggests that such surveillance was not isolated, as the agency routinely monitors the phone numbers of world leaders – and even asks for the assistance of other U.S. officials to do so. However, the memo acknowledges that eavesdropping on the numbers had produced 'little reportable intelligence.' At the daily briefing on Thursday, White House press secretary Jay Carney again refused to answer repeated questions about whether the U.S. had spied on German Chancellor Angela Merkel's calls in the past."

5 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. NWO by Rik+Sweeney · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Makes you wonder which country is the real threat in this world.

    --
    Summation 2
    1. Re:NWO by s.petry · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The system was designed to scale just fine. What happened is that the system has been corrupted, and that corruption has been very thorough. Remember that the United States is supposed to separate powers and responsibilities. Three separate branches of Government with no ties to keep each other in check. Separate levels of Government with the same branch separations were supposed to keep the Federal level from becoming too powerful.

      After a reset, we must remember what Socrates stated. In order for a Republic to succeed the members of the Republic must be highly educated, and that a Political class must be guarded against. People have been deprived of education in Philosophy and Rhetoric. Without those two things, it's very easy for a small group to manipulate them. It's happened over and over again through history, and we are no exception.

      --

      -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

  2. Re:Nothing of Value by paulpach · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Did Obama do anything to stop the spying after taking office?

    Well, then isn't Obama just as guilty as Bush on this issue?

  3. Re:Nothing of Value by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It has embarrased the Obama administration, and destroyed his credibility with American allies.

    I am afraid that much more had been destroyed than Obama's personal reputation.

    I am afraid that the reputation of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA had been severely destroyed because of what Obama administration has done.

    First, it was Brazil. Then, France. Followed by Mexico, and then Germany.

    And when Angela Merkel angrily called up Obama regarding matter, you know what Obama did ?

    THAT GUY DENIED EVERYTHING !!

    Obama was caught with his hands in the cookie jar and yet he acted just like a little kid telling bold face lies.

    As an American, I rather my president comes clean, admitting his faults, remedy the mistakes, than telling seriously inane bold face lies.

    Obama seemed to forget that he is THE POTUS - and as the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, his category denial has shamed the nation of the United States of America.

    I am sure, by now, no government in the world would ever trust the President of the United States, nor the nation of the United States of America.

    In other words, Obama has shamed all of us, the Americans !!

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
  4. Just because others are eating shit ... by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... should you eat shit as well ?

    This is all just a bunch of political bullshit people. There are a wide variety of world leaders being monitored by a wide variety of governments

    I am getting VERY FUCKING TIRED of listening to this asinine excuse !

    Just because the whole world is eating shit, would you eat shit too ?

    The world's government may be tapping each others, but they are NOT caught in the action.

    America, on the other hand, did.

    Why can't Obama just admit what happened, and then proceed with action to remedy the problem, instead of issuing a CATEGORY DENIAL to everything ?

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !