Personal data of citizens was intercepted indiscriminately. Corporate information – often of high economic and even strategic value – was at the center of espionage activity. Also, Brazilian diplomatic missions, among them the permanent mission to the UN and the office of the president of the republic itself, had their communications intercepted… Tampering in such a manner in the affairs of other countries is a breach of international law and is an affront of the principles that must guide the relations among them, especially among friendly nations. A sovereign nation can never establish itself to the detriment of another sovereign nation. The right to safety of citizens of one country can never be guaranteed by violating fundamental human rights of citizens of another country, …
– Brazilian president, Dilma Rousseff, unloading on the US government’s NSA program, just before president Obama’s speech to the UN today.
President Obama, who spoke after President Rousseff, and had this to say:
Just as we reviewed how we deploy our extraordinary military capabilities in a way that lives up to our ideals, we have begun to review the way that we gather intelligence, so as to properly balance the legitimate security concerns of our citizens and allies, with the privacy concerns that all people share.
Regardless of the odds of success in reversing the FATCA roll out in the coming year, and in spite of those who ridicule and nay-say, the truth, apparently, still has some power – even over the United States of America. Who would have thought that?
Personally, I appreciated that Obama said that they are limiting drone usage to the killing of hard to get terrorists and have basically left innocent bystanders in safety. He has effectively belittled the legitimate complaint that US drones are killing the innocent too. Just as Treasury scoffed at the notion that expats will renounce their US citizenship over FATCA. This is paternalism.
Yeah, but just a few years ago, would you have thought that the USG would even stoop to acknowledge accusations of any kind from anyone?
I think Obama is just mouthing words but it’s interesting that he took the time to even do that. It’s kind of “unAmerican” to notice the naked Emperor at all, let all say that steps are being taken to cloth him again.
It will take a long time for American to completely climb down off her pedestal but these push-backs by people like Rousseff should inspire us. She publicly called the USG on their bs and got a response. More govts need to do this and that means more people like us need to give them reasons to.
If he wants to take this seriously, Obama needs to give immunity from prosecution to Snowden. Otherwise, they just got caught with their pants down. If the United States was breaking international law, then Snowden is an international hero for bringing it to light.
Taken seriously? Do you think anyone takes him seriously? I mean in terms of truth or making things right?
He is beside the point. The US is beside the point.
What is most important is someone stood up and called him to account and even if his response wasn’t sincere, it’s a start.
These are beautiful words, but America is in dire dire debt, and nothing is going to stop someone who is drowning from using any means possible to save themselves. In fact- the whole world is afraid of America drowning because we all depend on the american markets. So basically one could say that all other countries are in collusion with America and keep propping the dollar up and condoning indecent behaviors to save their own economies. And I dont know if that will ever change. Basically, America has carte blanche to do whatever it wants because America is THAT important to other countries.
Polly good Point. Everything has been produced with the intention of consumption in USA. However, the forward looking capitalists have been investing heavily to produce luxury goods for China, which has a larger quantity of rich and upper middle class Citizens than all other locales.
I applaud Dilma Rousseff not only for the strength and clarity of her criticism of the USAs illegal mass electronic surveillance, but also for her intention of building a South American telecommunications infrastructure which is decoupled from the USA. May she have every success in those efforts. I personally don’t believe the USA is going to do anything to curb their illegal activities and I certainly wouldn’t put much faith in any claims to that effect from the USA. I honestlly can’t think of anything the USA could do to to reinstill the trust that they have lost by their own actions.
Yes, but America could be forgiven for its sins because in his speech Obama yet again proclaimed American exceptionalism. The rest of the world is acknowledging this with a standing ovation!
@Polly says
“…So basically one could say that all other countries are in collusion with America and keep propping the dollar up and condoning indecent behaviors to save their own economies. …”
So does that mean that America is “TOO BIG TO FAIL” ? 🙂
@Uncle Tell
Possibly so, Tell, possibly so. 🙁
Who is going to buy the swiss chocolate and watches, the german BMWs, the canadian energy and wheat ? What will people eat when they have lost their best customer to buy their products?
What’s in Obama’s kool-aid that makes it sooooooo addictive?
I don’t believe a word of what that “faux-president” Obama (Soetoro) has to say about anything. Probably wouldn’t believe him if he told me water was blue. It isn’t, it’s clear.