More Smart Diplomacy: John Kerry Says Spying on Allies not Unusual

"Hey, if you've got nothing to hide, then you shouldn't mind us listening in and then figuring out ways to use our gathered intelligence to pressure you to fall in line with our wishes. Come on, everyone does it in peace time."

Nor is it unusual, according to the Democrats, to spy on American citizens and the press, or to use the IRS and EPA to harass political opponents. I see no problem here. Move on. Move on.

From the Daily Mail:

The US spying scandal deepened today as Secretary of State John Kerry said it is 'not unusual' for governments to bug the offices of their allies. 

The extraordinary statement has angered leaders across the world after leaked documents revealed America spied on 38 foreign missions and embassies including the European Union's Washington nerve centre. 

As outrage grew across the EU over the damaging revelations, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was first to lash out, declaring: 'Bugging friends is unacceptable.'

Really? Kerry saying that the US normally bugs offices and spies on allies made people angry? Weird.

Speaking to a press conference today, Kerry said: 'I will say that every country in the world that is engaged in international affairs and national security undertakes lots of activities to protect its national security and all kinds of information contributes to that. All I know is that is not unusual for lots of nations.'
But the remarks did not wash with Merkel who responded, through a spokesman: 'If it is confirmed that diplomatic representations of the European Union and individual European countries have been spied upon, we will clearly say that bugging friends is unacceptable. 

'We are no longer in the Cold War.' 

Meanwhile, Martin Schulz, president of the EU Parliament, told French radio the United States had crossed a line.  

He told France 2: 'I was always sure that dictatorships, some authoritarian systems, tried to listen ... but that measures like that are now practiced by an ally, by a friend, that is shocking, in the case that it is true.'  

[...]  

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said U.S. spying was 'out of control, adding: 'The U.S. would do better to monitor its intelligence services instead of its allies.'

A sensible suggestion that will, of course, be ignored.

I thought electing Obama was going to improve our image with foreign countries, especially in Europe. I guess they're not buying the Light-bringer thing of '08. Oh, well...