Secretary of State John Kerry’s ongoing foreign tours continue to focus on dismissing the complaints of allies as unfounded, and insisting that they should simply trust President Obama to get things right.
On today’s visit to Poland, Kerry faced major questions about NSA surveillance of EU leaders and companies, with growing outrage threatening to derail trade talks and doing major harm to diplomatic ties with nations across the world.
Kerry’s message was essentially to get over it, insisting that the trade pact is a “separate” issue and growing outrage about industrial and political espionage by the US shouldn’t have any impact on it.
Likewise, Kerry insisted that President Obama was already “reviewing” the controversy and would figure out how to strike the “right balance” on security and privacy, an argument that hasn’t been particularly credible domestically and is even less so internationally.
The EU has every right to be angry; the NSA has way overstepped its bounds.
The lesser races should know their place. The US Empire rules the world and all should kow tow before us as the only instrument God's will. … or is that the will of the oligarchs?
"the trade pact is a “separate” issue and growing outrage about industrial and political espionage by the US shouldn’t have any impact on it."
So we shouldn't be linking Iran's nuclear status to its trade with the rest of the world– right?
The problem is the rest of the world understands what the "right balance" really means: "suck it up and do what we say…because we have the best interest of the world at heart…trust us."
But, the sell isn't as easy as it used to be when the US actually had more esteem and respect around the world — I know, it really didn't but the lie was easier to sell then than now.
What an arrogant pr!ck – 'Get over it' kinda sounds like 'put some ice on that' – an infamous line from another infamous arrogant pr!ck. When will the rest of the world finally tell the US to go to hell?
“right balance”
I have an idea!
Our Nobel Peace Prizer could make another speech!
Kerry and the state he supposedly represents had better wake up to the consequences of the globalized US spy net. We're in for a balkanized Internet, and that means disaster for American companies who thrive on international sales. These companies and corporations had better get organized to put pressure on the Obama administration about reigning in American spying agencies. The most effective thing Congress can do is cut the spy budget in half. That would still leave more than enough to fulfill its anti-terrorism mandate.