theQuestion: Do recent revelations of U.S. spying on its allies do more harm than good?*
Another furor has erupted over yet more revelations gleaned from the documents leaked by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. The U.S. spy agency allegedly intercepted the communications of numerous high-level government officials from allied countries, including calls from German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cell phone. According to reports, phone numbers for 35 world leaders were gathered by the NSA and subsequently tasked — the term used for targeted eavesdropping. This revelation, among others, has recently exposed U.S. monitoring of Germany, France, Brazil and Mexico — seriously damaging core American relationships.
While some here in Canada might experience a little schadenfreude while watching the U.S. struggle with these embarrassing revelations, I feel outrage at what appears to be calculated and targeted leaks designed by Snowden and his comrade Glenn Greenwald to do maximum harm to the United States. I believe these leaks are malicious.
When Snowden first began his crusade last summer, his intentions were purportedly to be for the greater good. Civil liberty advocates heralded him as a hero for exposing the broken U.S. government promise to not spy on its own citizens. I argued then in a Duel that Snowden was making a mockery of whistleblowing and his flight to China and then Russia undermined any ethical motive he laid claim to. Now, all doubt for me has been removed.
It’s no secret that allied countries spy on each other. If one were to document all the instances of espionage the volumes would fill a library. In fact they already do — it’s called history. Enemies spy on enemies and friends spy on friends. I ask you, have you never intentionally leaned in close to overhear two friends gossiping at a cocktail party or strained to listen in on conversations at the office? Please, where is the news here?
Outrage from France and Germany is nothing more than political theatre designed to save face at home — while they too likely conduct espionage on their friends. In 2009, it was revealed in a secret UK government document that France and Germany were actively spying on Britain. This past week, former French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner said, “Let’s be honest, we eavesdrop too. Everyone is listening to everyone else.” And Madeleine Albright revealed she suspected France of spying on her while she was secretary of state. She said “glorifying Snowden is a mistake. I think what he has done is a criminal act and it has hurt us very, very badly.”
I couldn’t agree more.