Russia's PM says U.S. hurt by evidence of "cynical" spying

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - The United States faces a tough task undoing the damage inflicted by allegations it has spied on leaders of allied countries, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

Reports that the U.S. National Security Agency tapped German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cellphone and conducted widespread electronic snooping in nations such as France, Italy, Spain and elsewhere have sparked anger among American allies.

"It's not very pleasant when you are spied on ... so the leaders are angry. I understand them," Medvedev told Reuters in an interview on Thursday.

Medvedev suggested such spying was not unusual, but he added that "it is assumed that it is not done in such an absolutely cynical way".

"Can the situation be calmed? I think it's possible. But to be honest, no assurances will help here," he said. "What can you say in this situation? 'Sorry, we won't do it anymore' or 'We will not try to listen in on you'? Nobody will believe it."

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/11/01/uk-russia-medvedev-spying-idUKBRE9A007O20131101

[underpants]

1. Yeah glad your Russians don't do any of that spying

[Alamuti Lotus]

3. I don't think the phrase "...because we would never do that..." is a part of the present taunting

The United States loudly proclaims itself--endlessly, in fact--to be a beacon of light and a model that the rest of this savage world is often forced to kneel before. The rest of the world is permitted a moment of uncontrolled gut laughter when the Emperor stands stark naked before all of his supposed subjects. I suppose the Emperor is also permitted to stand there aloof and ask "what's the big deal?", but really should not expect a straight answer.

In the likely event that my parable above strikes off its mark, let me elaborate. The US Gov't makes great sport out of lecturing others on a number of fronts: you're a terrorist, you need to change, how dare you, fall in line, evil!, regime change, blah blah blah. The Russian gov't, for example, is indeed greatly flawed, but makes little pretense about its supposed superiority to others and wastes little energy on self-aggrandizing charlatanism and arrogant puffery while steamrolling over large portions of the globe.

While their own behavior is suspect to criticism from a number of directions, this fact diminishes nothing from the embarrassingly hypocritical situation of fraudulent--even criminal--behavior being exposed. The fact that the offending party then squeals loudest about the exposure--and not contesting the contents--speaks volumes about its aforementioned posturing of superiority.

[Katashi_itto]

4. +10000!

[bemildred]

7. Precisely. Once your credibility is gone, it's not coming back.

And we not only betrayed a trust, we trampled all over it for personal gain.

[stevenleser]

12. Except that the vast majority of spying in Europe was done with the help of EU spy agencies.

You are reacting to the face saving attempts by EU leaders to pretend they didnt know, just like the Pakistani and Yemeni government feigned anger at drone strikes and then it was later discovered they not only approved but were requesting specific targets.

There is no lost credibility. Merkel and all the rest know about all of the spying to begin with.

On Edit: And the Russians talking about spying?

[RKP5637]

2. Spoken by a country above reproach? LOL! I guess they've forgotten all about the cold war, for just

one example.

[ronnie624]

6. Some interesting perspectives:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/apr/19/russia.comment

http://msuweb.montclair.edu/~furrg/vv.html

[sendero]

8. As if our behavior then..

... was any better than theirs. Maybe you should put down the Weekly Reader and read some real history.

[RKP5637]

9. Childish comment, be gone! Point out facts, not arrogance on your part! Yet another

snarky DU comment. For example, look at post #6, wherein the post offered constructive and interesting information.

[delrem]

5. Russia is hardly the only country saying that.

Question is: is there any country that isn't? Why not?

[Playful Piranha]

10. Who has to submit proof of spying by other countries?

The same countries accused of hypothetical spying on the US?

[In_The_Wind]

11. Hello ~ Playful Piranha

[img][/img]