Greenwald’s Latest Snowden “Scoop:” US Spying on Latin and South America

[Galraedia]

A Brazilian paper (with Glenn Greenwald’s byline no less) is reporting that Snowden leaked documents about US intel programs in Latin and South America - against Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela. The Washington Post reports:

A Brazilian newspaper on Tuesday published an article it said is based on documents provided by the former American contractor Edward Snowden asserting that the United States has been collecting data on telephone calls and e-mails from several countries in Latin America, including important allies such as Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.

The paper, O Globo, based in Rio de Janeiro, says the documents show the National Security Agency amassed military and security data on countries such as Venezuela, an American adversary that has been accused of aiding Colombia’s Marxist rebels and maintaining close ties with Iran. But the documents also show that the agency carried out surveillance operations to unearth inside commercial information on the oil industry in Venezuela and the energy sector in Mexico, which is under state control and essentially closed to foreign investment.

U.S. officials have declined to address issues about intelligence gathering or the O Globo report, except to issue a statement saying that “we have been clear that the United States does gather foreign intelligence of the type gathered by all nations.”

The report on Tuesday came after O Globo on Sunday published a story contending that Brazil is a major target of the NSA’s international effort to monitor telecommunications. The newspaper said that in gathering data in Brazil, the NSA counted on the collaboration of American and Brazilian telecommunications companies, though O Globo did not name them.

Again, none of this is shocking, let alone illegal under US law.

All nations spy. It’s juvenile to think otherwise, or to think that spying is always wrong. There are plenty of good reasons to do so, including keeping tabs on potential or emerging threats, and to inform political leadership in the country doing the spying about what they believe is really going on behind closed doors - not just the public pronouncements by regimes about how their country functions.

Read more: http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/42250_Greenwalds_Latest_Snowden_Scoop-_US_Spying_on_Latin_and_South_America

[flamingdem]

1. Seem like Greenwald wants to court favor and get publicity in South America and Brazil

perhaps to help his buddie Ed. Though Brazil might be out of the question we haven't heard a "no" from Uruguay, a skip and a hop away. That's Greenwald's neck of the woods and influence if people buy in.

[underpants]

2. I get the sense that everyone is spying on everyone

this is new?

[aquart]

5. No. But you don't talk about spy club.

Snowden talked. Now our allies have to react. Going macho about US highhandedness gets lots of points so they're jumping on it. No one is in trouble but us.

Thanks, Edward. You're a real patriot.

[BenzoDia]

3. Whole leak has been a near dud.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to have better insight into how our surveillance programs work. But I could do his over-hyped presentation

[flamingdem]

4. Brazil may contact Snowden over US spying claims

* To my point about currying favor

Brazil's government said it may contact fugitive former security contractor Edward Snowden as it probes allegations the US monitored phone calls and e-mail in Latin America's largest economy.

"Mr. Snowden's participation in an investigation is absolutely relevant and pertinent," Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota said in Senate testimony to discuss allegations that were first reported by O Globo newspaper last week.

"I don't rule out the hypothesis of seeking out contact with Mr. Snowden, something that doesn't need to be carried out on Brazilian territory. It can be done another way."

Patriota's interest in speaking to Snowden comes as governments across Latin America, even those with close ties to the US such as Colombia and Mexico, demand explanations about the extent of American surveillance activities in the region.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/world/brazil-may-contact-snowden-over-us-spying-claims-20130711-2prg9.html#ixzz2YhGaCix6

[Babel_17]

6. Well, I wonder how we're using the info

You're right, everybody monitors everybody. But imagine if Saudi Arabia was spying on Democratic politicians and giving the info to Republican operatives.

We would be outraged. And when I say spying I'm not talking about like The Enquirer. Spying can often include getting dupes to do breaking and entering, planting microphones, etc. All illegal.

So, my question is, do we have any word on how nice our spying is? Is it just gathering Intel like a good journalist or do we also look for information that can topple an elected government?

[MjolnirTime]

7. Glenn will squeeze this for all its worth. Snowden is sacrificed. He gets paid.

What a fucking tool this guy is!

[jaysunb]

8. Your'e absolutely correct.

but what I don't understand is all the smart people here at DU that continue to not see what's really going on.
The Patriot Act can be legislated out. Why not take up that action instead of blindly providing the other side more ammo against the one person who does NOT get to vote on it.

I hope Greenwald winds up in the cell w/ Snowden.

[madrchsod]

9. has anyone actually published any of these documents?

so far i`m reading "according to" in every news release.

[Luminous Animal]

10. Um, yes. Go to the original source. It is the reporting and publishing of these documents

that compelled the DOJ to level espionage charges against Snowden.

[madrchsod]

13. thanks

[AnnieBW]

11. War On Drugs

It's all because of the "War on Drugs". They're probably off chasing the druggies. Plus, you had Chavez in Venezuela sitting on "our" oil. And don't forget the Castro brothers - the ones from Cuba, not Texas. But, I'd bet that it's mostly druggies.

[Warren Stupidity]

12. Actually the mass surveillance of the domestic population of foreign countries

Is unprecedented, unethical, and abhorrent. It is, according to the Brazilian government, also a violation of Brazilian law. Of course such mere technicalities, especially when they involve puny insignificant nations, are of no concern to authoritarian nations of great stature.

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

14. I thought this was about letting the American people know THEY'RE being spied on

And then I read of the hacking in Hong Kong, Europe, and now South America.

This information does nothing to benefit the American people, outside a handful of fringe groups.

[HipChick]

15. Greenwald lives in Brazil...Snowden was a useful tool

He no longer needs him - end of story