Given the history of German-American relations since the end of World War II, it is more than surreal to read this article by Der Spiegel columnist Veit Medick, which treats NSA surveillance – perhaps rightly – as a crime that must be investigated and rooted out. It would appear that Germany is preparing to investigate NSA spying and German complicity with it with customary German thoroughness. Furthermore, Germans are about to seriously consider whether to grant asylum to Edward Snowden. Either of these would by themselves be truly extraordinary events.
For Der Spiegel, Veit Medick starts out this way:
Reconnaissance mission: The heads of the German intelligence services are headed to Washington, and an NSA fact-finding committee may soon begin its work. Edward Snowdon would be the most important witness. However, leading German politicians and officials must also expect to be questioned.
Berlin: Should we offer protection or close our doors? Ever since Edward Snowden expressed his willingness to testify in Germany about the background of the NSA scandal, a debate has broken out about how Berlin should react. Many politicians and intellectuals have spoken to Der Spiegel in support of granting asylum to the former intelligence agency employee. However, the Christian Democratic Union [CDU] and Social Democratic Party [SDP] are hesitant. They fear the damage this would cause to transatlantic relations.
One thing is clear to all: Snowden is important, and likely the most important figure, in this country’s still pending reconnaissance. On Monday, the chiefs of the Bundesnachrichtendienst [BND] and the Verfassungsschutz [Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution] are traveling to Washington to question the United States government. During the week, the Parliamentary Oversight Committee will meet to discuss the latest revelations regarding the NSA spying assault. At that point, a decision will likely be made as to whether to form a Bundestag committee of inquiry.
Such a committee would be unpleasant for many of those involved. So who should be called as witnesses for questioning? The CDU and SPD will likely use their majorities to prevent their members from having to testify. If one is serious about throwing light on the situation, however, one will have to question the most important participants. These are ten suggested people who should be questioned by any NSA fact-finding committee.
Edward Snowden: He would be the central witness for any investigating committee. Snowden knows the files, the codes, the operations – no one else is likely to have a comparable detailed knowledge on the NSA surveillance scandal. How the 30 -year-old whistleblower would be questioned by such a committee remains to be seen. The CDU and SPD are scared: they fear bringing Snowden to Germany would be an affront to the United States.
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