Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff snubs President Obama over NSA spying revelations

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Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff decided to potpone a state visit planned in Washington in October, because of revelations that she was the target of U.S. spying.

"Illegal practices of communications interception and citizen's data, businesses, and that of members of government constitute a grave offense which challenges national sovereignty and individual's rights, and is incompatible with democratic relations between friendly governments.

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1. Yes it really is incompatible with democratic relations between friendly governments...........

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2. All friendly governments know they are spied upon by other frienly governments.

Mrs. Dilma Rousseff chose to give this matter an importance it doesn't deserve. Every industralized nation is subject to this practice, and it also has their own spying program. Industrial secrets are sold in black markets, their selling prices depend on the nature of the product and its competitive advantages.

Democratic relations between friendly governments do not, in principle, allow this practice to be used between them. Nonetheless, it is in practice a generalized tood for industrial spying.

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3. Spying on friendly countries may have friendly consequences.

Mrs. Dilma Rousseff, president of Brazil, has bitterly complained about U.S. spying on her country.

Most advanced countries spy on other advanced countries. They mean no harm, and it is routinely carried out with an objective of evaluating other countries' technical advances and other relevant information. These activities might or might not be announced, depending on whether they relate to delicate evaluations that require stealth.

The United States keeps active records of spying exercises that allow it to monitor technical advances, whether the spied party is friend or foe. And allies spy on each other routinely.

Identification of potential threats that involve other friendly countries becomes important to a decision to help said friendly country.

Brazil's Mrs. Rousseff should be more receptive to the sharing of information with the United States that would allow for joint responses to threats that affect both parties. After all, the U.S. could provide Brazil with useful and effective inputs to maintain peace in its neighborhood.