Brazil cancels U.S. visit over spying claims USA Today

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Durn whistleblower stirred up the poor folk down south.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/09/17/obama-brazi-dilma-rousseff-national-security-agency/2826211/

Brazil's president postponed a planned state visit to the United States over allegations that the National Security Agency has spied on her government.

"The President has said that he understands and regrets the concerns disclosures of alleged U.S. intelligence activities have generated in Brazil," said a statement from White House spokesman Jay Carney.

Brazil's president postponed a planned state visit to the United States over allegations that the National Security Agency has spied on her government.

Brazil President Dilma Rousseff made her own announcement on Tuesday, but added that her visit could be rescheduled. "Given the proximity of the scheduled state visit to Washington and in the absence of a timely investigation ... there aren't conditions for this trip to be made," said a statement from Rousseff's office. "The Brazilian government is confident that when the question is settled in an adequate manner, the state visit can quickly occur." Rousseff has said she wants an apology from Obama and the United States.

[Cali_Democrat]

1. I'm sorry, but the US should not apologize for spying on foreign countries

Countries spying on one another is nothing new and has been going on for centuries.

It's funny how people are suddenly shocked that spy agencies spy on foreign countries.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Yep. What are allies for? I'm sure we welcome all spying on us.

And, we certainly wouldn't expect an apology from Brazil or Israel if they spied on us.

Ask Jonathan Pollard. In fact, tell Obama to apologize for the USA throwing him in prison.

[Cali_Democrat]

3. The concept of "allies" is misunderstood by many

There are countries whose interests occasionally align on certain issues, but definitely not all issues.

The the US and Israel are considered by many to be "allies", but they both spy on one another. Germany and France are considered to be close "allies", but France engages in massive espionage against Germany.

"Allies" spying on one another is not unusual in the least and Brazil definitely isn't even considered to be a close ally.

Interests are not always going to align, even with your "allies".

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. I notice that So. America is getting a bit touchy of late

by our increasingly ill disguised power plays.

First Morales incident and now this...

[SidDithers]

5. And not a single fuck was given...nt

Sid

[WillyT]

8. Right... We're The Biggest Bully On The Block... Supported By Millions Of Other Homegrown Bullies...

Way to go into the future... right ???

[Cali_Democrat]

9. Country have been spying on one another for centuries and it will continue

for centuries.

[WillyT]

10. Yeah... And It's Gotten Really Old... Are They Protecting Our Lives ???

Or are they using it for economic advantage... political blackmail... on political opponents???

We had slavery for centuries too...

[Cali_Democrat]

11. Espionage will never end.

Countries may want to stop completely, but a country will never trust that another country has fully given up their espionage activities. How do you verify if another country has given up their espionage activities if you don't trust them? The only way to truly verify would be to spy and verify....thus defeating any agreement to stop spying.

Espionage will never end.

[WillyT]

12. Maybe... But It Should DEFINITELY Be Reigned In... And Stringently Overseen...

And General Alexander should be fired immediately.

[Cali_Democrat]

13. How do you oversee and regulate espionage between countries?

There really is no mechanism for enforcement.

It won't end. It has happened for centuries and it will continue.

[WillyT]

15. You Make Them Get A REAL Warrant, From A Regular Judge...

Not some FISC/FISA court.

If they have good cause to get that warrant, then they should.

If they are surveilling for business/industrial, or political opposition purposes, then they should not.

[Cali_Democrat]

16. I'm not referring to domestic intelligence gathering

I'm referring to the subject of the OP which is specific to foreign intelligence gathering. How do you enforce regulations on a worldwide scale?

For example, a FISA court has no jurisdiction over Israeli or Russian intelligence gathering.

Are you even paying attention to the subject of the OP?

How can you possibly regulate countries when it comes to their espionage activities against one another?

It's been going on for centuries. What's your proposal?

[WillyT]

17. And Yet... They Are Spying Domestically... Why Do You Suppose That Is ???

[Cali_Democrat]

18. Again...I'm referring to the subject of the OP which is

specific to foreign intelligence gathering. How do you possibly regulate that?

Funny how you're trying to shift away from the subject of the OP which had to do with US espionage against Brazil.

BTW, do you ever create a post without a smiley? Or do you just have to use them?

[Uncle Joe]

22. They're intricately tied together, if the U.S. hadn't been building a surveillance state

against its' own citizens, Snowden likely wouldn't have spilled the beans in regards to Brazil.

The same dynamic as occurred in the Soviet Union, their Big Brother policies motivated their dissidentsl to seek asylum or speak out against their government as well.

Ben Franklin had it right

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin

The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions; for life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with, and in which there is a vast variety of good and ill events, that are, in some degree, the effect of prudence, or the want of it. By playing at Chess then, we may learn: 1st, Foresight, which looks a little into futurity, and considers the consequences that may attend an action ... 2nd, Circumspection, which surveys the whole Chess-board, or scene of action: — the relation of the several Pieces, and their situations; ... 3rd, Caution, not to make our moves too hastily...

[G_j]

6. They spied on her personally

I would say an apology would be wise.

[WillyT]

7. More Here:

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/nsa-spying-scandal-spoils-dinner-at-the-white-house-for-brazils-president/2013/09/17/24f5acf6-1fc5-11e3-9ad0-96244100e647_story.html

[BluegrassDem]

14. Brazil needs to get over themselves

As Obama said, they spy on him too. They all spy on each other. WTF do you spy agencies do? And Brazil is an American-friendly country, but not necessarily an ally. Brazil needs to register their complaint, and move on to trying to make sure the Olympics and World Cup actually work.

[gulliver]

19. Nice job, Snowden!

Brazil's president can't visit without looking like a toadie thanks to Snowden. And that visit might have generated economic activity for poor Brazilians. All lost for nothing.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

20. Of course, if the NSA hadn't spied on Brazil she would be coming.

All lost for nothing...thanks to the NSA.

[gulliver]

21. It's just so much nonsense.

If she isn't a complete idiot, she knew we were spying on Brazil before the Snowden/Greenwald publicity releases. We still are, I'm sure, and I don't think we are alone. The publicity releases simply turned a fact of life into an open insult.

[G_j]

23. ain't no disinfectant

like sunshine!