An apology to our allies.

[Wolferz]

We're sorry, we're sorry.
We're NOT sorry.

[Jimbuna]

I doubt there are many nations naïve enough to think it doesn't go on and is practiced by most nations (those with the ability).....the only change is the media coverage the matter is currently receiving and has had in recent times.

[danasan]

Originally Posted by Skybird

SNIP

Far more serious is that America alienates its biggest creditor. And that will backfire sooner or later. Even more since said creditor seems to probably prepare his return to a gold standard, and claiming the status of global reserve currency for itself in the forseeable future. Americans tend to appease themselves by thinking China has lots to lose when letting America fall. - And that is where they think wrong. Its not as if China has nothing to lose. It's just that it has less to lose if they let America fall. Sticking with it, just mounts the final bill. Its a bit like like with the Tiger chasing two men. You must not run faster than the Tiger. You only need to run faster than the guy beside you.

P.S. Bernie Ecclestone recently said something like this: Europe is done. It will make a nice tourism ressort, and that's it. - In a nutshell, he is right.

Our former chancellor Helmut Schmidt said a couple of years ago in one of his books and a lot of forums of interested managers that there will only be a couple of leading currencies left in the world within the next 20 years. He didn't mean the US $...

[Betonov]

Just give us what you dug up on our ''leaders'' so we can finally have enough to hang them all

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Betonov

Just give us what you dug up on our ''leaders'' so we can finally have enough to hang them all

I sense a reply or two coming

[Wolferz]

Originally Posted by Betonov

Just give us what you dug up on our ''leaders'' so we can finally have enough to hang them all

Hang them?

But, but, we have all these newly purchased guillotines!
We'll loan ya one and you can throw rotten veggies at the guys in the que.

[Betonov]

No guillotines. I want to see them squirm

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Betonov

No guillotines. I want to see them squirm

You can wire me the money and as soon as I receive it I'll send you the rope

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

An apology to our friends in Germany and other nations for our tyrannical government's extending it's disregard for privacy rights beyond our borders to our Allies.

Our government isn't what I would call tyrannical..... yet. It's definitely working on it though.

Originally Posted by Armistead

We've always spied on our allies, cuz often they turn out to be our future enemies.

It's not the foreign spying that worries me. After all, a government should be looking out for the best interests of its people. What worries me is when that same government is spying on its own people.

Originally Posted by Aktungbby

Nothing is really new; there's just more of it!

In terms of foreign "intelligence gathering", I find myself uncaring. Any given country's government has always been snooping on other countries. However in terms of domestic, just because it may not be anything new, doesn't make it any less unacceptable when brought to light. A government of the people, and for the people, should not ever be using it's apparatus against it's people. That I believe, is the road to tyrannical rule.

[mookiemookie]

Everyone spies on everyone else. Jonathan Pollard, anyone?

[mapuc]

I agree on what one of the Danish journalist said on the danish news

USA is in one of their Major of not the biggest diplomatic crisis

or is it an exaggeration ?

Markus

[danasan]

Originally Posted by Aktungbby

NOT SO: Truman officially signed off in 1951...and yer' not a suburb, yer' a buffer zone and still the 'strongman of Europe'! Sauerkraut...That's gute Soül 'Fude' BBY...ein Rueben Sandwich...mit ein HAMM'S! served every day in the oval office, just to keep Das Frütkake, Barb Bachman quiet...

I would prefer to be quoted in a correct and complete manner, please:

"We are nothing better than a "suburb" of the USA today. But I really do wonder if it could be worse being a "suburb" of China or Russia? I'm fine with that."

I am not fine with being a suburb of any other country at all, but, to make it clear, I am NOT LUCKY with the so called "allies".

[Mr Quatro]

Don't believe everything you read, bubblehead

History proves, as do many school books in other countries also prove, facts have not always been as accurate as they have been portrayed.

When the truth of flight 007 Korean Airlines is finally told no one will probably be left around that cares.

We don't owe apologies without all of the facts being told

[Skybird]

There is diplomatic fallout for the US. However, the simple truth, as far as Germany is concerned, is this.

German counter intelligence and the Bundeswehr's much praised cyber warfare protection division that was launched some time ago with a lot of hoorays and hellos, have done a lousy job in defending against the NSA's attacks.

And German business companies additionally have a lousy reputation for their cyberattack protection measures.

Germans are romantics. We do not do things - we dream them for the better and write a poem about them. If it is stupid and anti-Israeli enough, the author even gets applause and wins a literature prize for it. That scares all our enemies away, and we are safe again.

As far as I know, the BND is said to be very competent in one field only: and that is its number of HUMINT contacts and general information status in the ME.

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Everyone spies on everyone else. Jonathan Pollard, anyone?

Benjamin Franklin?
Paid by all sides to spy on their own population and on the foriegners.
Not much has changed in the couple of centuries apart from the technology.