We got a new espionage affair in Germany due to a BND employee who has admitted spying for a US intelligence agency being uncovered. This is a current affair, with the last data package sent by the spy on July 1st. The last two data packages consisted of highly classified BND summaries presented to the parliamentary committee that has been investigating the NSA electronic surveillance affair since March. In total, at least 218 classified documents were transferred; he got caught when he tried offering stuff to the Russians as well. Which intelligence agency is involved on the US side is a bit unclear, the BND apparently has hints that it's the CIA this time, not the NSA. Since at least in part, a parliamentary committee - a constitutional body - was the victim, this is currently treated as the most serious case of espionage in Germany since WW2.
Since shit just got serious, the German government finally starts playing hardball.
Following that, Thomas de Maiziere, currently Minister of the Interior and previously having held posts as Minister of Defense and Federal Intelligence Chief announced yesterday evening that the scope of intelligence targets will be broadened to include the USA with plans to tap US communication networks; further, this may be broadened to include other current non-targets - other NATO members - with plans including at least basic technical surveillance of all embassies in Germany. The government has requested the US to withdraw all personnel of the Joint Intelligence Staff to leave the country (which is interesting, because that means we know which ones those are), and might actually still call for the US envoy, Emerson, to be withdrawn.
Emerson - intentionally - received an appointment during his 4th of July party - with Hillary Clinton attending - and had to leave the party early to report to German foreign minister Steinmeier. The White House has since refused to comment on the affair. Merkel left the next day for her planned three-day state visit to China, while Steinmeier left the next day to visit Mongolia. The German President has called for investigations, and, if the US can be pinned on this, for a heavy-handed government response; Merkel, being asked during a joint press conference with Chinese Prime Minister Li in Beijing, expressed the same sentiment.
Well, at least they'll play hardball until Merkel is back. Then everything is back to our regular ambiguous zero-comment political culture, except for the spy who's gonna get anywhere from ten to life.
Surveys taken in the last few days show that 70% of the German population no longer trust the USA, 57% are calling for more independence from the USA, and 40% are calling for Germany to turn to Russia instead.
Since shit just got serious, the German government finally starts playing hardball.
Following that, Thomas de Maiziere, currently Minister of the Interior and previously having held posts as Minister of Defense and Federal Intelligence Chief announced yesterday evening that the scope of intelligence targets will be broadened to include the USA with plans to tap US communication networks; further, this may be broadened to include other current non-targets - other NATO members - with plans including at least basic technical surveillance of all embassies in Germany. The government has requested the US to withdraw all personnel of the Joint Intelligence Staff to leave the country (which is interesting, because that means we know which ones those are), and might actually still call for the US envoy, Emerson, to be withdrawn.
Emerson - intentionally - received an appointment during his 4th of July party - with Hillary Clinton attending - and had to leave the party early to report to German foreign minister Steinmeier. The White House has since refused to comment on the affair. Merkel left the next day for her planned three-day state visit to China, while Steinmeier left the next day to visit Mongolia. The German President has called for investigations, and, if the US can be pinned on this, for a heavy-handed government response; Merkel, being asked during a joint press conference with Chinese Prime Minister Li in Beijing, expressed the same sentiment.
Well, at least they'll play hardball until Merkel is back. Then everything is back to our regular ambiguous zero-comment political culture, except for the spy who's gonna get anywhere from ten to life.
Surveys taken in the last few days show that 70% of the German population no longer trust the USA, 57% are calling for more independence from the USA, and 40% are calling for Germany to turn to Russia instead.
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