Germany blocks Edward Snowden from testifying in person in NSA inquiry

[Blue_Tires]

The German government has blocked Edward Snowden from giving personal evidence in front of a parliamentary inquiry into NSA surveillance, it has emerged hours before Angela Merkel travels to Washington for a meeting with Barack Obama.

In a letter to members of a parliamentary committee obtained by Süddeutsche Zeitung, government officials say a personal invitation for the US whistleblower would "run counter to the political interests of the Federal Republic", and "put a grave and permanent strain" on US-German relations.

Opposition party members in the committee from the Left and Green party had for weeks insisted that the former NSA employee was a key witness and therefore would need to appear in person, not least because of concerns that Russia otherwise could influence his testimony.

However, the ruling Christian Democratic and Social Democratic parties, said that a written questionnaire would suffice. The disagreement led to the resignation of the CDU head of the committee this month.

Last June the German foreign ministry rejected Snowden's application for asylum because it was not submitted in person on German soil. If Snowden had been invited as a witness, he could have met these requirements.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/01/germany-edward-snowden-nsa-inquiry

Of course, the truth of the matter is Snowden has nothing of substance to add to the inquiry anyway, since he has a policy about not discussing anything which hasn't already been in the newspapers and even then; he was a very small cog in the grand scheme of things...Naturally, Germany saves face by hinting that the U.S. is twisting their arm, and no one is the wiser...

[Blue_Tires]

1. And Greenwald's response is as predictable as the sunrise:

Last edited Thu May 1, 2014, 08:16 PM - Edit history (1)

Glenn Greenwald ‏@ggreenwald · 10h
It's always strange how little embarrassment European leaders have about their abject subservience to the US http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/01/germany-edward-snowden-nsa-inquiry …

(as an aside, Greenwald is really in love with the word "subservient" -- It gets way too much usage for a reputed wordsmith)

[Ash_F]

3. I prefer the word 'placating' /nt

[Blue_Tires]

6. Greenwald's assertion is off the mark no matter how he words it...

[2banon]

12. So say you..

your authoritarian bias would see it that way.

[stevenleser]

13. Agreed. The reality is much simpler. Every Western government is concerned about terrorism

and so there is vast cooperation in anti-terror policy between western governments at all levels, political, military, intelligence, etc.

[randome]

9. Maybe similar sentiments were part of his failed porn business?

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Aspire to inspire.[/center][/font][hr]

[2banon]

11. And Germany's Response was as predictable as the sunset.. quell surprise.

The term "Subservient" is quite apt, I think. Genuflecting would be one I've might have used.

[Cali_Democrat]

2. stasi

[Jesus Malverde]

4. The power of blackmail

This was a shot across the bow.



It's likely they have tapes of her praising the communists.

[Blue_Tires]

5. Blackmail? Why would they even need to?

Snowden has never spoken about anything that hasn't already been revealed in the news -- So why would he all of a sudden start now?? (ICYMI, this rule is one of his conditions before he agrees to any interview or public comment)...

The Germans had serious doubts about what real value he would add to the inquiry long before today...

[Gravitycollapse]

7. I've never understood why people find the "it's already been said" argument so comforting.

The history of revelation, especially in literature, is discussing what has already been discussed in news ways.

The "nothing he said is new" argument is a non-starter. It is probably the most pathetic attempt I've seen so far to marginalize the importance of the situation. It doesn't even bother to deny the truth anymore. It just tries to argue we shouldn't care. That's a really low stance to take, even for those who want to further the surveillance state.

[Blue_Tires]

8. It's Snowden's rule, so go ask him, or his attorneys

This is from his testimony to the European Parliament in March:

Please bear in mind that I will not be disclosing new information about surveillance programs: I will be limiting my testimony to information regarding what responsible media organizations have entered into the public domain. For the record, I also repeat my willingness to provide testimony to the United States Congress, should they decide to consider the issue of unconstitutional mass surveillance.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1403/S00108/edward-snowdens-testimony-to-european-parliament-on-nsa.htm

So with that condition on the table, what's the point? Why even ask questions when most of his answers are just links to news stories? (and this is an audience already well-briefed on the topic)...

Of course the Germans already had their doubts about Snowden weeks ago, but it's more politically expedient to blame the U.S. so both sides save face: http://news.yahoo.com/head-german-nsa-inquiry-quits-over-snowden-row-104211578.html

And of course the "Germany cowers to American threats" storyline is right up Greenwald's alley as well...Much easier to stick to that instead of admitting Snowden took a big credibility hit after that Putin debacle (and don't think some of those lawmakers weren't planning to grill him on that)

[stevenleser]

14. Why would that be blackmail-worthy?

They could come out with a video or audio tape of her praising Marx, Lenin, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot as a teen or young adult. It wouldn't make much of a difference. She has many years now governing from the center-right. No one would believe now that she is a secret lefty.

[Blue_Tires]

10. Related Story:

U.S. and Germany Fail to Reach a Deal on Spying
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/02/world/europe/us-and-germany-fail-to-reach-a-deal-on-spying.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1