GERMAN SPY SCANDAL - CRIMINAL PROSECUTION LIKELY TO EXPAND

Hilarious Google Translation
German to English

Heiko Maas threatens U.S. agents with law enforcement The espionage charge in the Defence Ministry is apparently more explosive than expected. The federal government tightened the sound to the Americans:  Before the German law, all are equal. The alleged American agents leaders looming in the espionage affair, criminal proceedings. Federal Justice Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) said the Welt am Sonntag, "spy among friends is a diplomatic ... failure." Also on Intelligence friendly states the laws would apply. Should evidence show that the alleged German spies in the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and the Federal Ministry of Defence "worked for American services, the investigation will also check for any client extend," Maas said. "Before the law all are equal." Who in this country not abiding by the law, may have to face criminal prosecution. After researching the Welt am Sonntag weigh the charges against the officers in the Defence Ministry, which is under suspicion of espionage, apparently heavier than previously thought. A closely familiar with the case officer of a safety authority said: "If I were the federal prosecutor, I would press charges.  The evidence for an espionage activities are very strong.." "I can not talk to you" When alleged spymaster it is to concern the U.S. citizen Andrew M.. The 52-year-old, who was allegedly hired as a political consultant worldwide in many conflict areas should have received from the German confidential military documents and made ​​him gifts in return. A renowned scientist who met the Americans several times, the Welt am Sonntag said: "It would not surprise me if Andrew M. would work for an intelligence." M. had a contract on cooperation offered to him years ago, who was endowed so lucrative that he was behind a suspected indecent proposal. Andrew M. declined to comment. The newspaper he said on the phone: "I can not talk to you." Were evidence aside managed? The opposition in the Bundestag sees action: "If the Attorney General finds, with whom the suspect for years has had contact, it must be understood that it is considering this track and the background of the person completely clears up," said the deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Control Panel, André Hahn (left). "For Americans who violate our laws and do not enjoy diplomatic immunity, the German criminal law shall apply." Green Party Deputy Konstantin von Notz raises the authorities negligence. You could have just asked the American side for information in this case. Thus, "the investigations are in danger. Maybe you could be managed by aside evidence" were said by Notz. Bilt am Sontag ....  = German publication 'World on Sunday' (here). Oops 'Bilt am Sontag' (Image on Sunday?) Heiko Maas  .........  = German Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection BND ....................   = Bundesnachrichtendienst - Federal Intelligence Service (BND) .............................      Bundes (Federal) nachrichten (News) dienst (Service) - direct translation. SOURCE - Bilt am Sontag - here.

Funny Google translate amuses me, so I thought I'd post it.

Heiko Maas, Germany's Federal Minister of Justice looks poised to criminally charge the US-German double-agents' US 'leaders', if they can find any evidence that those in Germany broke German laws.

But there's a hitch:  if diplomatic immunity does not apply. 

Now that I'm thoroughly confused and bored with my attempted translation, here's the English version ... from a Russian source:

Berlin wants to prosecute US handlers of German spies Published time: July 20, 2014 13:30 Criminal prosecution is likely to be expanded on Americans involved in recruiting and supervising activities of German officials spying for the US intelligence, Germany’s Justice Minister Heiko Maas told Welt am Sonntag. If investigators find a body of evidence that alleged double agents in Germany’s federal intelligence service and Defense Ministry have been spying to the benefit of American intelligence, “the investigation would extend on their feasible patrons,” Maas declared. According to Welt am Sonntag, the alleged spymaster is the US citizen Andrew M., a 52-year-old international political consultant, who allegedly received confidential military documents from the Germans. “The law applies to everyone without discrimination,” Maas said, stressing that intelligence security laws apply on friendly states either. “Those who do not abide by the law in this country may have to face criminal prosecution,” he said. “Spying among friends is like breaching a diplomatic dam,” Maas said. “The evidence for espionage activities is very strong,” an anonymous security officer closely familiar with the case told the paper. “If I were the federal prosecutor, I would press charges.” ...extract only...rest @... SOURCE - RT News - here.

EDWARD SNOWDEN - Wikileaks - Russia

Source:  Business Insider One Crucial Party Has Disappeared From Snowden's Story Michael B Kelley Jul 21, 2014, 7:12 AM SOURCE - Business Insider - here.

-----------------------------------------------
COMMENT

Not sure what the significance of the story at Business Insider is, but their timeline might be helpful to anyone following, or wishing to discuss, the Edward Snowden story.

Does it make any difference who shepherded Snowden to Russia?

As a newbie observer, I haven't a clue.  LOL.

Are Americans stupid?

Renew America Article - 

aka 'Are Americans Stupid?'

July 19, 2014
Is the German chancellor an agent of Russia?
By Cliff Kincaid

In the wake of the shoot-down of the Malaysian Airlines plane over Ukraine, various pundits continue to say it is unlikely that Europe will do much about it. But why? It is just a lack of will? Or something else?

The evidence is being ignored by most of the media, but it continues to indicate that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is an agent, or at least a stooge, of Russia's Vladimir Putin.

In an extraordinary development, the office of the President of Russia reports that Putin said on Wednesday that the German Chancellor is "a reputable European leader under whose leadership Germany has made great progress in the social, economic and political spheres."

The message noted "the high level of cooperation that Russia and Germany have reached," and reported that Putin told Merkel "that the further development of bilateral ties regardless of the political situation serves the interests of both nations."

The comments were included in the context of greetings on Merkel's 60th birthday.

The Kyiv Post reports that the people of Ukraine, who are involved in that "political situation" alluded to by Putin, are not amused.
...
He added, "Western and NATO countries believed they could tie Russia into greater military cooperation through engagement, but now have realized that Russia was probably never really interested in that."

This confirms the point made by Air Force General Philip M. Breedlove, NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe and commander of the U.S. European Command, who recently told a Pentagon news conference, "For the last 12 to 14 years, we've been looking at Russia as a partner. We've been making decisions about force structure, basing investments, et cetera, et cetera, looking to Russia as a partner."

The truth is that Russia deceived the U.S., and Germany was in on the deception. The real partners are Russia and Germany.

...extract only...
SOURCE - Renew America - here.

----------------------------------------------------

COMMENT

Now they're resorting to smearing Angela Merkel.  LOL.
Pathetic.

Awww, the US was 'earnestly' cooperating with Russia -- er, like they were cooperating with their ally, Germany -- on whom the US was recently caught spying?    LOL.

Deceit is what the US specialise in.  LOL.

Obama the 'bad boyfriend' finally calls Merkel after US double-agent spy sprung

Free Malaysia Today Article

Obama speaks with Merkel after spy row

July 16, 2014

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama yesterday spoke to Chancellor Angela Merkel for the first time since a row over US spying prompted Germany to turf out the CIA station chief in Berlin. [LOL]
 
The White House gave away little of the conversation about the latest espionage scandal to rock the crucial relationship between the US president and Europe’s most powerful leader.

A statement said that Obama and Merkel “exchanged views on US -German intelligence cooperation, and the President said he’d remain in close communication on ways to improve cooperation going forward.”

Obama and Merkel have forged a firm working relationship, but successive revelations about US spying and surveillance have strained US-German ties and put the German leader under intense political pressure at home.

The call came on the eve of a meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels which will consider toughening sanctions on Russia over what the West sees as destabilizing behavior in Ukraine.

The statement said neither leader had seen Russia take steps to stem the flow of weapons across the border of eastern Ukraine, or steps by Moscow to de-escalate the situation or to persuade separatists to lay down their arms.

Washington signaled on Tuesday that it would consider going ahead with its own new measures against Moscow should Europe remain reluctant to move forward. [OF COURSE ... PROTECT THE $]

A source in Brussels told AFP meanwhile that it was possible that the EU could decide to toughen measures against Moscow on Wednesday.

... 
EXTACT ONLY
SOURCE - Free Malaysia Today - here.

-------------------------------------------------

COMMENT 

Wonder if anyone's recorded the conversation.  LOL.
Good on Germany for turfing CIA chief.
What a cheek.  LOL.

GERMANY - SECOND SPY SUSPECT FOUND

German probe into second spy suspect shakes Berlin's US ties By Andrew McCathie, dpa

 09.07.2014

Berlin (dpa) - Police raided several premises in Berlin Wednesday after Germany‘s chief prosecutor confirmed that an investigation had been launched into a new suspected spy scandal, which once again threatens to badly shake relations between Berlin and Washington.

There is the question how such "profound disagreement" in matters of security and civil liberties can be reconciled, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert told a regular government briefing in Berlin.
...
No arrests have so far been made.

German officials have not confirmed that the suspect, who worked for the German Ministry of Defence, was acting on behalf of the US and declined to comment in detail of the latest saying it was now under investigation by prosecutors.

But dpa and other German media understand that man was spying for the US.

The Defence Ministry declined to say whether he was a soldier or a civil employee in the department.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel‘s office also confirmed Tuesday that US Central Intelligence chief John Brennan had telephoned Berlin‘s security service coordinator Klaus-Peter Fritsche to discuss the spy scandal.
...
Last week, the prosecutor‘s office said it had launched an investigation into an employee of Germany‘s domestic intelligence service BND, who is reported to have worked as a double agent.

The BND employee was alleged to have handed more than 200 pieces of sensitive information to the US secret service, believed to be the CIA, for about 25,000 euros (34,000 dollars).

At his request, US ambassador John B Emerson held discussions again with German Foreign Ministry officials on Wednesday.

This was the second such meeting in less than a week.

The German foreign office however said the talks had been held in confidence and declined to comment on their content.

The latest allegations about German agents follow a stream of reports, sourced to former US intelligence officer Edward Snowden, about US spying in Germany.

This included revelations last year that the National Security Agency (NSA) had tapped Chancellor Angela Merkel‘s mobile phone, which the prosecutor‘s office is also investigating.

FULL - Europe Online
---------------------------------------------------

Second spy found!  Oops.

Notice how 'civil liberties' are mentioned?
Here we go, they're going to clamp down on everything in the name of security?