President Obama toasts the President of France and other guests and dignitaries the other day at a state dinner.
During a joint press conference with French President Francois Hollande, President Barack Obama was asked whether his selection of France for the first state visit of his second term as president signaled a post-spying agreement with America’s European ally.
What Obama said next was rather shocking.
“There’s no country where we have a no-spy agreement,” Obama answered.
Earlier Obama indicated that the US government “will continue to gather information about the intentions” of foreign governments.
Obama also promised the NSA “will not monitor the communications of heads of state”atop the ranks of allied partners unless there are “compelling national security purposes at stake.”
Source: Obama: ‘Our Intelligence Agencies Will Continue to Gather Information About the Intentions of Governments’https://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-our-intelligence-agencies-will-continue-gather-information-about-intentions-governments_774816.html
In the meantime U.S. spying continues on an unprecedented level around the world.
It should be understood that France is no victim in all this – it also engages in spying activities, including those inside the United States.
Recently its top spy chief admitted as much!
Spying and espionage is nothing personal it would seem.
See related report: Former French Intelligence official admits to “espionage” against American commercial and industrial interest https://groundreport.com/former-french-intelligence-official-admits-to-espionage-against-american-commercial-and-industrial-interest/