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Unlike China, Germany is under the thumb of the U.S. Their state prosecutor won't even start an investigation into the tapping of Merkel's phone because 'there

Unlike China, Germany is under the thumb of the U.S. Their state prosecutor won't even start an investigation into the tapping of Merkel's phone because 'there isn't sufficient evidence'. Never mind that the U.S. gov't admitted to it. I don't think Germany or any other E.U. countries will follow.

fauigerzigerk 12y ago
Germany is not "under the thumb" of the U.S as much as you seem to think. Just look at Ukraine or all the anti Google action that reeks of protectionism. There are simply too many rational arguments against starting a trade war over NSA rigged electronics. Neither Germany nor Europe as a whole makes enough electronics equipment to replace everything that may have been rigged by the NSA or other nations' spy agencies. The NSA does not restrict itself to equipment clearly marked as "made in USA" either. We cannot solve this problem by rolling back globalisation and division of labor, aiming for national self-sufficiency.
- madez 12y ago
  European electronics and surrounding technology could very well ease the problem. That does not imply rolling back globalisation or division of labor nor is it aiming at national self-sufficiency, it's about competition and having choices. It's virtually impossible to evade US-american or chinese products if you want to buy a modern electronic consumer device. That is what should change in my opinion.
  - happyscrappy 12y ago
    Or closing US military bases.
  - fauigerzigerk 12y ago
    And why are you assuming that European spy agencies are less inclined to spy? The Bundestrojaner made it pretty obvious that German authorities have no qualms about it and the UK ... well, I guess I don't have to elaborate on the UK. What makes the US special is its global reach, not its particularly evil intentions. The choice that I would like to have is a radically more transparent, pluralistic design, development and production process. We need many eyes from all kinds of different people on every single piece of hardware and software. We won't get that by having one government take action against another one. This needs to be a global initiative.

fauigerzigerk 12y ago

Germany is not "under the thumb" of the U.S as much as you seem to think. Just look at Ukraine or all the anti Google action that reeks of protectionism. There are simply too many rational arguments against starting a trade war over NSA rigged electronics. Neither Germany nor Europe as a whole makes enough electronics equipment to replace everything that may have been rigged by the NSA or other nations' spy agencies. The NSA does not restrict itself to equipment clearly marked as "made in USA" either. We cannot solve this problem by rolling back globalisation and division of labor, aiming for national self-sufficiency.

madez 12y ago
European electronics and surrounding technology could very well ease the problem. That does not imply rolling back globalisation or division of labor nor is it aiming at national self-sufficiency, it's about competition and having choices. It's virtually impossible to evade US-american or chinese products if you want to buy a modern electronic consumer device. That is what should change in my opinion.
- happyscrappy 12y ago
  Or closing US military bases.
- fauigerzigerk 12y ago
  And why are you assuming that European spy agencies are less inclined to spy? The Bundestrojaner made it pretty obvious that German authorities have no qualms about it and the UK ... well, I guess I don't have to elaborate on the UK. What makes the US special is its global reach, not its particularly evil intentions. The choice that I would like to have is a radically more transparent, pluralistic design, development and production process. We need many eyes from all kinds of different people on every single piece of hardware and software. We won't get that by having one government take action against another one. This needs to be a global initiative.