Topic: In God we trust................
................but pretty much nobody else...........
We don't do political on here, which is probably just as well, and it not my intention to do it in this comment.
The rights and wrongs have long lists in both the pro's and con's column. Nevertheless, whilst spying can always be justified, being exposed and caught doing it only creates or intensifies a mistrust between the parties that the culprit was trying to understand in the first place.
The agencies involved ( amongst many others) have been doing this for years, but now the light has again been shone on these dark practices there seems considerable suprise. I suppose the sheer quantity of what they can see, read and intercept has been the cause of this...shock.
The agencies say considerable harm has been done through the leaks. They are not wrong, but the harm from the European side has been to the US standing here. Especially in Germany.
Should the US worry about that? Probably not. I mean, Germany isn't going to stop sending Beemers, Mercs and Audi to the States anytime soon so give it a little a time and everything in the garden will again be rosy.
Or perhaps not. Certainly not on an individual level anyway. This whole story broke just as Merkel and Obama were shaking hands and she wasn't happy about it. Many Germans, certainly with 1st hand knowledge and experience of the old DDR and the state spying that went on at an unprecendented level certainly don't appreciate the implications of these revelations. Merkel looked very uncormfortable whereas Obama didn't, and that sent its own very powerful message.
The story continues to be big news here, and for the first time in 10 years of livng here I find Germans discussing a major world news story on a daily basis. RTL showed yesterday at primetime 'The Bourne Ultimatum' (again) and I suspect it was no coincidence. A movie heavy on eavesdropping and very dirty tricks with the mantra ' a threat to National Security' being uttered at every plot twist to justify the next criminal act. But OK, that is just Hollywood's interpretation.....................
Germans though, like anyone else, live in the real world and they are not so stupid to believe that this kind of spying doesn't have its role to play, and to that extent they should probably be grateful that someone else is prepared to get their hands dirty doing it. That said, these revelations do serve a purpose I think. A reality check. You can and maybe should do it (spying) but don't take it for granted that you can. Mistrust won't help the cause. Good practice will.
As I said at the top. Rights and wrongs (if there are any anyway) are not for discussing here.
Here's hoping for a good news story soon. One thing we don't need is seeing Putin standing up playing the 'honest broker'!
Damn..........I said I wouldn't be polictical. Failed again with the Putin line. Just blew my place in their bunker........................
PS....if the mods feel this isn't an appropriate topic. Take it down. No harm done. It's Monday, I've got downtime and I just felt like writing something.
PPS. If anyone does comment then please keep it on an even keel. Remember, anybody could be reading this!
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