Bugs, hackers, and all that spying jazz

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

"The German government claims to have obtained information suggesting that the United States may have monitored the mobile phone of Angela Merkel. The chancellor called Barack Obama to demand an immediate clarification, it said."
"White House confirms call demanding clarification and insists US is not monitoring chancellor's communications" (Source)

Not sure if the poor NSA guys who were possibly tapping her phone were able to keep a straight face while going through Frau Merkel's messages to her hubby asking him to buy some warm cotton night dresses for those freezing evenings up there in Germany... and some other leather items that wouldn't be appropriate to mention right now. ;)

A bit more srsly though, I bet that after Snowden's latest "contributions" to Teh Truth(tm), most world leaders are now double-checking and triple-checking their phones, tablets, PCs and laptops for hints of those sniffing dogs from the Land of the Free. Case in point:

"Brazil’s bold plan to combat the NSA: President Dilma Rousseff wants to route internet traffic away from the US, but experts say it will do little to deter American espionage" (Source)

No surprise that some major so-called US "partners" are angered by all this. Especially France. And once the Snowdenball has been sent downhill, there'll sure be others to roll along. Now the Brits are utterly concerned that Obama has sent curious microscopic nano-drones under Cameron's bed as well.

Well, let's just give a minor recommendation to the likes of France. OK fine, bring this thing to its very end, why don't you! Completely unplug from the US, pass laws to prevent anyone doing business in France from transferring and storing sensitive info outside the country without permission by the entity to whom that data belongs; kick out Google, Yahoo, Facebook, AOL, etc. Stop playing with words and do a real thing for once. Sure it'll have consequences, some peeps and businesses will hurt, but you're France, for Napoleon's sake! You can do it. I believe in you. Or else, shut up about it and stop pretending you're not doing the very same thing. After all this is the Internet. Once you post something on the Webz, it's already out there.

As for bugging phones and stuff like that, I guess spies now officially become America's third major export, apart from worthless green papers and bomb-shitting drones. Aw-hell-yeah?

And while we're still being completely serious, and because spying on their own citizens has become Teh Gubmint's pastime now (and there are quite a few angered/concerned people at home as well), I suggest you take a pen and a notebook, cuz here are a few suggestions about how to make NSA spying popular with Americans.

"Ten Ways to Make NSA Spying Popular with Americans"

Btw, I like this one the best:

Comments

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

Son, I am dissapoint. This was perfect opportunity to slam the Obama administration for alienating our allies and emboldening our enemies. You are slipping man. Euro-hate always comes second to slamming people for alienating allies.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but if our allies are dirty Euros?

[policraticus.livejournal.com]

Obama's done plenty of things to alienate our allies and demonstrating weakness to our enemies. This isn't one of them. You could call this the fruit of the piss poor job he's done, however. The straw that breaks the camel's back, so to speak. On its face I think it is a nothingburger of an issue, but the fact that the French and Germans feel like they can call us onto the carpet for doing nothing more than they do themselves is, it seems to me, telling.

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

Well of course he's done all that. It goes without saying, really.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

lol

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

The only thing conservatives have left is Dick Cheney'ing a discussion. Just get a real serious and somber tone and look very very serious and say whatever you want to say and really just mean it. Even if it's completely wrong, just be real serious and old white guy about it.