Remember, some months ago, when Mr. Snowden absconded from the USA to China and then to Russia and told the world the news that the USA, through its National Security Agency was listening in on all telephone conversations and other electronic communication devices, including those of Heads of State, such as Mrs. Merkel of Germany ?
Mrs. Merkel expressed her disappointment, stating that this is something "you just do not do to your friends".
At that time I suggested that spying by one country on another, friend or foe, has been going on since time immemorial, and that European Newspapers should keep their shirt on and not get quite so 'holier than thou' in their expression of disappointment and disgust. The USA were pilloried and condemned, as only the Europeans are capable of doing.
Well, get a load of this: What do I read in this morning's "Kurier?"
It has been revealed that the German Security Service has been listening in on all kinds of electronic communications, including calls between the former U.S.Foreign Minister, Mrs. Hillary Clinton and the former President of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Anan.
Won't Mrs. Merkel and the German press be upset now!
Heavens, nobody knew.
Mrs. Merkel did not know and nobody else did either.
Not much they didn't...
Don't you think that the gist of the Clinton-Anan conversation was brought to the attention of the highest officials?
Don't you think that this is only one of innumerable conversations which the German Security Service listened in on ?
It really isn't the fact of cyber-spying which annoys me. No, with modern technology at everybody's disposal nothing less can be expected and appropriate precautions should be taken by all who want to keep their conversations a well guarded secret.
What does annoy me though, is the unmitigated hypocrisy of European news services and European politicians when they get all excited about something everybody does and everybody knows that everybody does.
What a case of a Kettle calling a Pot black.
That, in any event, is the opinion of
Bertstravels
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