US; now you've done it!
Work outside the walls, actively try to detect terrorists, gather information and put together registers over potential threats. That has been the task of the Surveillance Detection Unit.
The American Embassies in Stockholm, Oslo and any other capital have systematically been monitoring citizens with the sole purpose to find and stop eventual terrorists. This had been fine if it had taken place on US soil. But it hasn't. This has been taking place outside of the US, on foreign ground. In cities where you are guests! You have no right to monitor people outside the walls. Do what you want with your own staff, but do not step outside.
There has been vague attempts to explain these actions from the Secretary of State. These explanations are not plausible. What they however do is to remind us all of how the US government dealt with things during the Hoover era. To be a bit rude; keep your paranoia to yourself and please don't spread it around. If the American Embassies feel the need of extended surveillance,aside from the agreed cameras and routines in effect around the embassy areas, the right thing to do is to ask the host for assistance. Not create a vigilante group, engaged in espionage bordering on terrorism.
I am so upset I can't think straight. Not too many years ago a discovery like this would have been the cause of war. May still be if the 'wrong' country discovers the extended surveillance of native citizens.
Monitoring and catalouging persons depending on skin colour,hair colour, dress codes, age, language...That is illegal here. I don't know what the rules are in the US but I find it hard to believe that such actions are legal there. Unless the Hoover spirit is coming back again.
Now, now, you may say, US is under constant threats from terrorists. We have to make sure we are safe, even abroad.Or especially abroad.
Fine. Imagine this monitoring taking place in your town. Your house being under scrutiny because your teen is emo. Your neighbour is from Bulgaria. 'You' get monitiored because you speak with your neighbour and your kid is taking part in the political discussions in junior high. Still fine? And now, imagine this being done by a foreign government. What do you call that?
The American Embassies in Stockholm, Oslo and any other capital have systematically been monitoring citizens with the sole purpose to find and stop eventual terrorists. This had been fine if it had taken place on US soil. But it hasn't. This has been taking place outside of the US, on foreign ground. In cities where you are guests! You have no right to monitor people outside the walls. Do what you want with your own staff, but do not step outside.
There has been vague attempts to explain these actions from the Secretary of State. These explanations are not plausible. What they however do is to remind us all of how the US government dealt with things during the Hoover era. To be a bit rude; keep your paranoia to yourself and please don't spread it around. If the American Embassies feel the need of extended surveillance,aside from the agreed cameras and routines in effect around the embassy areas, the right thing to do is to ask the host for assistance. Not create a vigilante group, engaged in espionage bordering on terrorism.
I am so upset I can't think straight. Not too many years ago a discovery like this would have been the cause of war. May still be if the 'wrong' country discovers the extended surveillance of native citizens.
Monitoring and catalouging persons depending on skin colour,hair colour, dress codes, age, language...That is illegal here. I don't know what the rules are in the US but I find it hard to believe that such actions are legal there. Unless the Hoover spirit is coming back again.
Now, now, you may say, US is under constant threats from terrorists. We have to make sure we are safe, even abroad.Or especially abroad.
Fine. Imagine this monitoring taking place in your town. Your house being under scrutiny because your teen is emo. Your neighbour is from Bulgaria. 'You' get monitiored because you speak with your neighbour and your kid is taking part in the political discussions in junior high. Still fine? And now, imagine this being done by a foreign government. What do you call that?