by socket0 on 6/24/15, 10:34 AM
I don't remember so much excitement and fury when it became known that the NSA was spying on us common folk. "Espionnage? Against le prolétariat? Who gives une merde?" But suddenly it turns out that the Americans were not only spying on the unwashed masses, but also our unwashed elite, and it's midnight meetings at the Elysée and general outrage all round.
by thibaut_barrere on 6/24/15, 12:36 PM
by Bedon292 on 6/24/15, 2:40 PM
Not saying that it excuses any of the actions, nor am I trying to be inflammatory, but I have a serious question.
Does anything really think that France, or Germany, or any other nations is not doing the exact same thing to the US? All governments spy on each other, even allies. That is how its been for probably the entirety of human history, and probably will be for foreseeable future.
by mladenkovacevic on 6/24/15, 1:19 PM
They'll huff and puff about this for a little while to give the illusion of surprise and indignation, but after the dust has settled and any offences have been swept under the rug, it'll be back to business of taking orders from the NSA while hoping their dirt stays hidden and no challenges to their legitimacy are posed. Same as Germany.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33106044
by yodsanklai on 6/24/15, 12:48 PM
I assume Hollande knew about this. The French will pretend to be upset, and the US will pretend that it has never happened. End of the story.
by stefantalpalaru on 6/24/15, 11:41 AM
by pnathan on 6/24/15, 1:52 PM
Yes, yes, it's not very gentlemanly to read each other's mail. We know, Mr. Stimson.
And the world will go on, with diplomats and heads of state spied on, like they have been for the past 60 years, because that is how the Great Game works these days.
by TACIXAT on 6/24/15, 3:09 PM
by mirimir on 6/24/15, 1:44 PM
> The fact is that the French and US intelligence services enjoy a degree of cooperation and interdependence that no government in Paris would ever dream of jeopardising.
Well, but France isn't one of the Five Eyes. I can't imagine that the French have intercepts from President Obama. But from what I've read, it's conceivable that Israel does.
Given that information is power, who's in charge?
by pjc50 on 6/24/15, 12:48 PM
Which translates as "will tolerate", because what could they possibly do about it? The DGSE aren't exactly clean themselves.
by higherpurpose on 6/24/15, 1:57 PM
France Pays Lip Service To Protecting Against US Surveillance.
Just like Merkel earlier, yet at the same time telling her prosecutors to stop investigating the US surveillance.