Recently, reports have surfaced that the National Security Agency (NSA) has tapped the phone of many world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, an ally of the US and a close friend of President Obama’s.

Details are still surfacing, but it appears that Obama did not know about the wiretapping that is under allegation.  According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, the White House learned of the wiretapping of over 35 foreign leaders this summer.  The White House quickly ordered the NSA to stop tapping Merkel’s phones and other unspecified leaders.  The paper did not say who gave the shutdown order or the date that it was issued.

The NSA surveillance was in response to a requested review of surveillance programs by President Obama after Edward Snowden leaked the classified details of US phone tapping systems.  Merkel has said that recent revelations have “severely shaken” relationships between the US and their European allies. She also told President Obama that eavesdropping on friends “is never acceptable.”  Even though multiple sources are saying that Obama did not know specifically about the taps on Merkel, recent revelations are not easy to get out of.

The Wall Street Journal said that is was understandable that Obama did not know about the Merkel eavesdropping because the NSA has so many surveillance programs that it would have never listed all of them to the President. 

Another problem that the White House is facing is the article that German newspaper Bild am Sonntag published regarding the spying.  The paper reported that NSA Director Keith Alexander told Obama about the Merkel surveillance in 2010, which the White House says that this is not true.

Other media reports, including documents released by Snowden, say that the White House has monitored the leaders of both Brazil and Mexico.  According to officials from both Germany and Brazil, both nations are drafting a United Nations resolution on privacy in electronic communication.

There are two sides to this story.  One of which is the fact that the US was allegedly eavesdropping on world leaders who are supposed to be allies, but the other side is that in order to keep the country safe, all countries must collect intelligence.  This is an ethical issue, and it will be interesting to see how the White House and President Obama deal with recent revelations.  Had they not been caught, this would have gone on for even longer, and it is impossible to know how many nations are keeping tabs on us, that is until they get caught or have a whistleblower of their own.

It is hard to say how news of eavesdropping will affect the US and its allied nations.  The news of Merkel made headlines this week because of her famous friendship with President Obama.  It is no secret that nations must collect intelligence, the only problem is how far one can go before you draw a line, especially with your allies.

Sources:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/01/world/europe/eu-nsa/index.html?iid=article_sidebar

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/28/politics/white-house-stopped-wiretaps/index.html?hpt=hp_t1