The latest NSALeak: Britain seems to be running a spy-base out of its embassy in Berlin:
Concerns were raised tonight that Britain operates a top-secret listening post from its Berlin embassy to eavesdrop on the seat of German power.
Documents leaked by the US National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden show that GCHQ is, together with the US and other key partners, operating a network of electronic spy posts from diplomatic buildings around the world, which intercept data in host nations.
An American intercept “nest” on top of its embassy in Berlin – less than 150 metres from Britain’s own diplomatic mission – is believed to have been shut down last week as the US scrambled to limit the damage from revelations that it listened to mobile phone calls made by Chancellor Angela Merkel.
But the NSA documents, in conjunction with aerial photographs and information about past spying activities in Germany, suggest that Britain is operating its own covert listening station within a stone’s throw of the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, and Ms Merkel’s offices in the Chancellery, using hi-tech equipment housed on the embassy roof.
Naturally, the Germans are pissed off. Again, the spies seem to be doing more harm than good.
One of the reasons this story has emerged is because German media has begun photographing embassy rooftops to see what the "Five Eyes" ar eup to. Their govenment may turn a blind eye to such spying, believing its all in the game, but the public won't. Which will hopefully force the government to act and eject these spies.
Meanwhile, again I'm wondering whether New Zealand does this for its partners (and if so, to whom?) - and whether our "allies" are doing it to us here in New Zealand. There's a very easy story here for the New Zealand media, if they want it.
