The NSA: No one cares that they legally spy on foreigners?

[AmericanErrorist]

Has there been any instance of the NSA using its completely legal power to spy on, say, an "unamerican" foreign political party or movement?

[AngryAmish]

1. They do it all the time

Every government out there is the result of a royal family, political party or movement. We spied on the Soviet Union, didn't we? It was run by the Communist Party.

[bananas]

2. And we exchange intel with allies

for example if we want a U.S. citizen spied on,
we "let" British intelligence spy on them in the U.S.,
and we spy on a Brit in exchange.

[AngryAmish]

3. exactly

[jmowreader]

5. Aargh!!!!!!

I am so fucking tired of hearing this particular line.

United States Signals Intelligence Directive 9, and the British equivalent of same, say you can't spy on allies and they can't spy on you. Period. The law is very clearcut on this.

All reciprocity agreements say the same thing: we are here to collect information on the enemy, and you are not them.

Now given this, if Bush and Blair decided to circumvent the requirements of the UKUSA Agreement and USSID 9, then spying on Americans was done. But it's not legal.

[bananas]

6. DCI Woolsey admitted it in the WSJ

If you're that tired, take a nap or drink some coffee.

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:F6JfNY_RpPIJ:cryptome.org/echelon-cia2.htm+spying+on+allies&hl=en
The Wall Street Journal, March 17, 2000
Why We Spy on Our Allies
By R. James Woolsey, a Washington lawyer and a former Director of Central Intelligence.

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:FoVQyngT05UJ:www.motherjones.com/news/outfront/1995/05/dreyfuss.html+spying+on+allies&hl=en
Help wanted: spying on allies

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:xaUtN9a04FsJ:slate.msn.com/id/2106079/+spying+on+allies&hl=en
Why allies spy on allies.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1477686,00.html
The secret reality of spying on allies

[shance]

4. Yes. Of course you're right. Ive certainly observed the double standard.

n/t

[welshTerrier2]

7. thanks for calling attention to the hypocrisy

there is an incredible arrogance in this country ... it would not be at all hard to imagine a time in the very near future where other countries, perhaps India or China, might develop a more sophisticated monitoring network ...

i wonder how Americans will feel knowing that other countries are monitoring everything they say and do ...

whatever happened to the old idea about "doing unto others" ... guess the golden rule is only meant for other people ...