Following the latest Snowden revelations this time exposing the NSA's spying practices in Spain, which apparently included spending billions in taxpayer funds to spy on 60 million Spanish phone calls [4], it was only a matter of time before Spain had an official response. Sure enough it came moments ago:
- Spain Asks U.S. to Disclose All Information on Phone Taps
Good luck with that. However, the US response was quick:
- U.S. Ambassador to Spain Says NSA Programs Protected U.S. Allies.
In other words, it was all for the greater good. Oddly enough, Rajoy has not yet summoned the US ambassador: one would think he would at least ask for all the NSA intercepted text message to Barcenas...
However, while the "indignation" by America's allies will come and go, the punchline in the overnight response to NSA's ongoing reputational hammering came not from Europe, but from China.
- CHINA FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN HUA CHUNYING COMMENTS ON NSA
- CHINA SAYS NSA PHONE TAPS VIOLATE LEADERS' PRIVACY
Because when even China makes fun of your spying practices, it's probably time to call it a ballgame.