German Spiegel reports, that mostly European agencies and diplomats were being spied on by the NSA with the help of the German Intelligence Agency, but<p>"Schindler [Head of Germany intelligence agency] tries to play it down: Most european agencies and most diplomats from the EU don't communicate through unsecure emails. Connections over a Vpn would prevent the capturing of emails by the BND [German intelligence agency]"<p>And obviously, no terrorists would ever use a Vpn.<p>Source: <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bnd-kann-daten-weitergabe-an-nsa-nicht-rekonstruieren-a-1032596.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bnd-kann-daten-wei...</a>
Good, the more political fallout, the better.<p>These kinds of cold shoulders are the language of diplomacy and power. In some small abstract way, the US's ability to defend itself has been reduced by this action-- power has been reduced. The power players in the government will take note of this, and ultimately tiny intangible reductions will be unsustainable and policy will have to change.
The question here is, if it is only a temporary halt until the dust has settled. As much I read in the source, phone calls and faxes are still submitted, so it appears to me very half-hearted.<p>I know, that the German intelligence agency "BND" always wanted to have a more tight corporation with the NSA.
Right at the end of the article is an interesting statement:<p><pre><code> The report said the NSA had equipped the listening station
in Bad Aibling with sophisticated technical equipment. A
number of NSA personnel are believed to work there together
with some 120 BND personnel.
</code></pre>
The point here is that NSA personnel are on secondment or implants to use another term. Having implants encourages complacency. You end up with scenarios like:<p><pre><code> Bob (NSA): hey Klaus, can you add these new selectors to the filters please?
Klaus (BND): Ja, when do you want that? Tomorrow ok? I'll get Alice to run them tomorrow. You still want to come to the summer party this weekend?
</code></pre>
Familiarity in security scenarios is dangerous. Implants breed familiarity.
Newest news from Germany: An important information artifact that was needed to illuminate this topic, was deleted. So, it should be clear, that the BND did not change, but somebody is now hushing up the whole topic.<p>(German) Source:
<a href="http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/NSA-Ausschuss-BND-hat-Liste-brenzliger-Ausspaehziele-geloescht-2638435.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/NSA-Ausschuss-BND-hat...</a>