Shabby Treatment by the United States

Published in Rheinische Post
(Germany) on 1 July 2013
by Martin Kessler (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Ron Argentati. Edited by Gillian Palmer.
The depth of the split between continental Europe and the U.S. is clearly shown by the brazen spying carried out by the American National Security Agency against Germany and the European Union. With no regard for negative consequences, the gluttonous American agents rifled through data communications in Germany in Orwellian fashion. That is a sign of pathological mistrust between a superpower and its supposed allies, regardless of whether the president is the hated George W. Bush or the revered Barack Obama.

Adding insult to injury is the U.S. view of Germany as a third-class partner that deserves to be spied upon. And the German government — except for our brave minister of justice, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger — remains silent in the face of such treatment. Apparently there exists a division of labor between U.S. and German security agencies. We profit from the fact that the U.S. agencies are allowed to do practically whatever they please and the German agencies are not. In return, Germany must put up with being the targets of U.S. spy operations themselves. A sovereign state shouldn't have to put up with that.


Die USA behandeln ihre Freunde schlecht
VON MARTIN KESSLER
01.07.2013


Wie tief inzwischen der Graben zwischen Kontinentaleuropa und den USA geworden ist, zeigt einmal mehr der dreiste Dauer-Spähangriff des amerikanischen Militärgeheimdienstes NSA auf Deutschland und die Europäische Union. Ohne Rücksicht auf Verluste durchleuchten die nimmersatten Agenten des angeblich befreundeten Geheimdienstes in einem Orwell'schen Ausmaß den Daten-Verkehr in Deutschland. Das ist der Ausweis des krankhaften Misstrauens einer Supermacht. Dabei spielt es keine Rolle, ob der verhasste George W. Bush oder der verehrte Barack Obama der Präsident ist.

Wirklich empörend ist die Klassifizierung Deutschlands als Partner dritter Ordnung, der obendrein als legitimes Angriffsziel gilt. Die Bundesregierung mit Ausnahme der wackeren Justizministerin Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger schweigt einstweilen zu den Vorwürfen. Offensichtlich herrscht eine Arbeitsteilung zwischen deutschen und amerikanischen Sicherheitsbehörden. Man profitiert davon, dass die US-Dienste im Gegensatz zu den deutschen fast alles dürfen. Da nimmt man lieber in Kauf, selbst überwacht zu werden. Ein souveräner Staat darf sich so etwas nicht gefallen lassen.
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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2 COMMENTS

  1. When you say the “revered Obama” please believe me when I tell you’re there are a great many American people who despise Obama and his regime..we never voted for him and consider him a pathological liar and a fraud with a fake birth certificate and using someone else’s social security number.. We’ like you..are treated with complete disrespect. This is the lowest point for America’s since are founding..pray for us..we need it.

  2. You must surely know, Germany, that the US has no respect for any country’s sovereignty — except its own, of course. That was made abundantly clear when European countries refused to let President Morales’s plane to fly in their airspace thanks to a stern (and bogus) warning that Snowden was on board. Finally, landing in Vienna, the President’s plane was searched — diplomatic immunity, be damned.

    You are right to be offended but it won’t do you much good. However, by this time tomorrow, the Brazilians will be joining you in your outrage.

    If, instead of trembling before the emperor, all countries had stood together and offered Snowden asylum, you might have increased your chances of having a bit of clout. But you act like poodles, so Washington treats you as if you were one..