Uncle Sam - Everybody seems to be his enemy

It is not about Snowden... it is about US government and US telecoms getting involved in unethical and possibly unlawful activities. For US government it is nothing new...

As for going after the poor whistle blowers... i think it is pathetic attempt of government to impose authoritarian regime. I would argue it is worse than other regimes since US has such an advanced technological foundation.

I had big hopes on Barac... but all he did is extended the agenda of previous government and committed to curbing personal liberties... i still dont get why they are going after Assange.. the guy just wanted good for the world... expose the evil side of war that others try to hide.

Blow My Whistle’: How Edward Snowden Became an Internet S*x Symbol

For some, the NSA leaker is a narcissistic traitor. For others, he’s a sexy nerd with an irresistible rebel swagger. Lizzie Crocker on the Team Snowden fan club.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/06/10/blow-my-whistle-how-edward-snowden-became-an-internet-sex-symbol.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thedailybeast%2Farticles+%28The+Daily+Beast+-+Latest+Articles%29

...Coolly but firmly, officials in Germany and the European Union issued complaints over two National Security Agency programs that target suspicious foreign messages — potentially including phone numbers, email, images, video and other online communications transmitted through U.S. providers.

"There's very little trust in the government, and that's for good reason," said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who sits on the House Intelligence Committee. "We're our own worst enemy."

http://news.yahoo.com/us-spy-programs-raise-ire-both-home-abroad-225349299.html

Senator Mark Begich (D. AK) put it very well when he said ..

“I’m troubled to learn the phone records of perhaps thousands of Americans have been obtained by the government. Alaskans are fiercely protective of our constitutional right to privacy. Today’s news raises concerns that those rights may have violated,” said Begich. “It is clear there needs to be greater transparency to avoid this type of unchecked monitoring of Americans’ personal communications. I have repeatedly called for a better balance between protecting our safety and protecting our Constitutional rights and will continue to do so. "

Palancole ,,, Already Solved :)

I think we are all saying the same thing... Palancole is right.. he means people are good .. places are good... even the lifestyle in some parts of america is good... but the external policy and spying on everything and everyone is bad.. and so is hypocrisy in media and external politics... the double standards applied on others.... if a country want to be a policeman at a very minimum it should live what it pritches

Most power wielding or even potentially powerful world leaders today must regard other nations(and even their own citizens) with some degree of apprehension and disquieting.Obviously some more than others!

Sulieman, I think you got me wrong because my punctuation was lacking of a comma sign. I am not upset at all. I am saying UncleSam goes to extreme in his surveillance paranoia and has the guts to brand some Arab countries as extremist states. For example, KSA as extremists in their Laws.

I know terrorism is not exclusive for Arabs but that's how they want their people to perceive it through their media. They brand such countries as Extremists. It's not me who do the branding. They do. I am not pinpointing any Arab countries as Terrorists or Extremists. Not at all my dear friend. I am not Arab, but I feel for the Arabs and others when the UncleSam paints them in black. Unfair treatment!

Palancole ,, I am an Arab

and I like American people, American movies and i think the US is a beautiful place to visit.

No need to be that upset

"Too extreme. They are EXTREMISTS too just like some Arabs countries they brand as Extremists or Terrorists"

That is also hatred, Terrorists is not Exclusive for arabs,,,, Don't watch the US channels too much!

We are not talking about hating the americans.. We are discussing governments "spying" on their own citizens. This includes many many governmnets. Its just that the stories broke about the USA because it has a free press and invetigative journalists.

Most of the Arabs, Africans and Asians I've met, they seem to like the Americans. And most of the Europeans I met, they seem to hate Americans. Well, I cannot generalise. But I think, it's the Government Foreign Policies that most non-Americans hate.

I speak for myself: I HATE American foreign Policies and their controlled Medias. I HATE the US Bullying tactics. And I HATE their intrusive surveillance. Too extreme. They are EXTREMISTS too just like some Arabs countries they brand as Extremists or Terrorists.

But I like Americans people, American movies and the US is a beautiful place to visit.

No brit....not really.IMHO

That is what the DS, Stasi and KGB used to say :o(

snakyy21: Couldn’t agree more.

MN... I never said I dont like Americans... I have very good American friends... I only disapprove their international behaviour ... and the superiority complex... and the corporate greed.... otherwise hard working Americans are good.... although sometime either ignorant or prefer to look the other way... yet can't blame them for that..

probably in the name of terrorism they are also tracking the guys who are not paying the taxes back home while only holding and clutching onto the american passport and other documents for namesake and for flashing the documents at third world airports

Brit, but security IS the issue..or not?

I have no issues if the government says "We are storing data on you"

However, the key issue is about data and its usage. We must not allow "Big Brother" to take foothold using security as its mantra.

P.S: I remember the days of going to protest against apartheid outside the South African embassy in London. The Embassy used cameras to photgraph us :O)

KR, yes and no...i think people want to make the choice themselves what they want the world to know.

And then they also want to the choice about what they want the authorities to know.

Talking about being selective when it suits..;)

I guess like UK, they must be sharing the information which can harm India with India too.

nomerci, Gone are those days when people preferred a bit of privacy...now the present generation always wants the world to know of their whearabouts through twitter or facebook. If you are talking about princlples for privacy, its probably applicable to a small elderly group of people who didn't change with time.

Well, I understand why people are upset. It's about principle.

Now, unfortunately times and circumstances have changed since those laws were put into action.

Maintaining Peace and Stability is utmost concern.. So, if you have nothing to be scared off, what's the buzz for.. Simply get over with it..

brit, This kind of surveillance is happening more intensively in US as you may be knowing, and the opinion amongst americans is divided. Many say that they don't have anything to hide, so if this could ensure their safety and security, why not happily share some personal information.

Only those who engage themselves in illegal activities should have reasons to show their displeasure.

It's not about guilt or innocence. Its all to do with covert intrusion and invasion of privacy.

Once bitten twice shy...US may have its own criteria with regard to extent of surveillance or combing the social websites. Wherever State machinery is slack and the law n order situation is not very much in control, there will be more chances of 'sleeper cells' quietly living there and waiting to get instructions from their bosses.

I guess there isn't any other way to proactively apprehend the trouble makers before they actually cause damage.

If India isn’t doing anything illegal

India has no reason to worry

Thel/snaky:

I would argue that, basically like any other group of people, there are good Americans and bad Americans, and then there are idiots!

Lovely...overflowing love for India!!!

Plus Indian technologists and scientists are working in key US labs and installations..

India is a key silient player in Afghanistan.. So they have every right to monitor them!

Theloneous..... just because someone consumes "allegedly american products" does not mean they should share US external policy views.

US is a bully and everyone knows that... and the bully pays a high price while its influence is gradually diminishing.

As for the products you mentioned:

1. Coca Cola - now produced all around the world. It is an international company and product and no longer American

2. Half of Iphone technology is a theft from Samsung... and other companies... it does not matter anyways... most of its components are made in Asia.

3. McDonalds... it is crap... and very bad for health.. it is more like a decease that current and future generation to suffer..

But why India ? Does chapati or karak chai look like weapons of mass destruction ?

The americans dont trust anybody and nobody trusts them and its no suprise they want to put guys like Julian Assange and Mannings behind bars to hide their dirty deeds and to make sure they dont expose more of Uncle Sams dirty tricks. Most of this american companies are actually extensions of the american goverment and their agencies

they forgot QL as well.... lol