>My bigger takeaway here is that they are supposed to be working with them. I'm quite sure that German intelligence would have offered up this information if so

>My bigger takeaway here is that they are supposed to be working with them. I'm quite sure that German intelligence would have offered up this information if some NSA official just asked. How would the NSA know the Germans didn't lie? I don't think this is a big issue. If you're a spy, expect to be spied upon.