Obama 'not told of Merkel phone bugging'

BBC News ^ | 27 October 2013 | BBC

[Corporate Democrat]

The chief of the US spy agency NSA has not discussed the alleged bugging of German chancellor's phone with President Barack Obama, officials say.

Gen Keith Alexander never discussed alleged operations involving Chancellor Angela Merkel, an NSA spokeswoman said.

German media say the US has been tapping the chancellor's phone since 2002, and Mr Obama was told in 2010.

The row has led to the worst diplomatic crisis between the two countries in living memory.

A report in German tabloid Bild am Sonntag claimed that Gen Alexander had told the president about the bugging himself.

An NSA source told the paper that Obama had not stopped the operation, and had wanted to know all about Mrs Merkel as "he did not trust her".

'Not true' However a statement from the National Security Agency on Sunday denied the reports in Bild.

"[General] Alexander did not discuss with President Obama in 2010 an alleged foreign intelligence operation involving German Chancellor Merkel, nor has he ever discussed alleged operations involving Chancellor Merkel," NSA spokeswoman Vanee Vines said.

"News reports claiming otherwise are not true."

The statement does not make it clear whether the president was informed of the bugging operation by other means.

[Revolting cat!]

Gospodin Stalin didn’t know either, according to the Russkies who never lost relatives to the terror!

[Revolting cat!]

“I didn’t know,” is what my mother told my teachers when she was called to school. She wouldn’t lie. Who’s Odunga’s mom? Valerie?

[Kickass Conservative]

So, the headline about the Phone Tapping starting in 2002 cannot be blamed on President Bush because he wasn’t informed either.

[Jack Hammer]

“Alexander did not discuss with President Obama in 2010 an alleged foreign intelligence operation involving German Chancellor Merkel...”

BULL. SH*T.

[Joe Boucher]

bull shit
obammy is a liar.

[Hoodat]

They're lying. This could not have taken place without the President's OK. The President alone has the authority to order warrantless searches for matters of national security. The NSA could not legally have done this without the President's signature.

FIS Court of Appeals, 18 Nov 2002

[Hoodat]

Gen Keith Alexander never discussed alleged operations involving Chancellor Angela Merkel, an NSA spokeswoman said.

If this is true, then General Alexander needs to be brought up on charges. The President alone has the power to authorize this. If Alexander operated outside that authority, then he belongs prison.