“…It’s not enough to defy the government and reveal what it wants to keep secret. When you go up against the most powerful and secretive forces on the planet, you have to try to win. It sounded kooky at first, or completely outrageous, but after President Obama’s August 9th press conference it was difficult to deny that Snowden had won — not a complete but still a significant victory.
“Congress had woken up to its oversight responsibilities and was finally debating the limits of the surveillance state. Lawmakers in both parties were advertising their doubts. Other parliaments around the world were asking questions they had not asked before…”
It is clear to many Britons that official concerns about Snowden leaks were not about national security; they were about worries the extent of domestic spying would be revealed to the public. Because that was disclosed, political leaders are now forced to examine the issue.
From the The Guardian, October 17:
“Nick Clegg has welcomed the decision of parliament’s intelligence and security committee (ISC) to launch an inquiry into the extent and scale of mass surveillance undertaken by Britain’s spy agencies.
“The deputy prime minister said it was right to assess how “big, new, powerful technologies” are used by the intelligence agencies…”
The topic is hotly discussed in Mexico, throughout Europe, in Brazil and other South American nations. Canada seems an exception although Opposition Leaders Thomas Mulcair said he thought leaders everywhere would put away their cellphones.
Categories: International
IN-SIGHTS 