The "Our Friends" Speech

It was a curious episode as Germans sat down and watched the President Obama speech on his modification of the NSA rules.

First, you kind of noted after several minutes....that the room was filled with Obama appointees and executives who work under the current Administration.  It's hard to say if this was just a public meeting that they'd attend (rare that they'd all be in one room), or it was designed to show everyone is in agreement.

Second, what the President said for the changes....was that executive action was the tool of use.  No laws to change.  No treaties to be signed.  This tends to mean that if something happens and he wants the rules to secretly or quietly change.....they just will.

Third, the general comment which struck most Germans, and was noted heavily by the German media on Friday night.....was the leaders of various countries which were considered "friends of America"....would not be bugged or covered by NSA.  Everyone else?  Yeah....they were open to bugging business.  So you can imagine the scene....when Chancellor Merkel uses her private cellphone....it's data is being collected....strictly because of her status as a private citizen.  Attempts to collect against her Chancellor phone....will be halted.

Fourth, this all comes back around to who is a "friend of America" and who isn't.  Is there a special list?  Do you get on the list one week, and off the next week?  Well....no one can say much on this.

Overall, Germans didn't really buy into speech or the intent of the changes.  Based on comments of news commentators here in Germany.....it didn't settle anyone's hostility over the NSA business.

My humble guess is that the Chancellor and staff will meet over the next week or two, and form up their own agenda.  This "our friends" speech probably cooled off some people, but the majority still have some anger over what transpired and what's still on the table.