[pvnick]

Greenwald's english synopsis: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/07/nsa-braz...

It's interesting to see him strategically releasing these stories to maximize impact of the information. While I'm sure Latin American leaders knew of or at least suspected NSA spying, seeing confirmation in such a revealing way must certainly strengthen their resolve to stand up to the US "treating them as colonies," which can only be good news for Snowden.

It's also interesting to think about the stated mission of the NSA, which is to collect foreign intelligence. Is that a black and white statement? Are there boundaries and human rights to be respected? America respects international law on not torturing to some debatable degree, perhaps a "spying" agreement is needed to define the acceptable limits on collecting foreign intelligence, which I don't believe yet exists.

[merraksh]

America respects international law on not torturing to some debatable degree

First, by "America" you mean "The USA". I don't want to be nitpicking, but since the article is about another country of the Americas I'd clarify that.

Second, the US do not torture people but on their own soil, but practice it through third parties. Finally, the US do not recognize the International Criminal Court.

[mtgx]

> America respects international law on not torturing to some debatable degree

Yes, they respect it by calling it "advanced interrogation techniques" or something like that. So they aren't doing "torture", therefore it's legal, just like "don't call it bribe, call it "campaign donations", so then it's legal, too.

A lot of stuff is handled this way in US, especially after 9/11. A lot of 1984 newspeak.

[loginalready]

It used to be understood that in principle intelligence agencies would generally respect the law of friendly nations, and quietly and discretely brake the law in case national security was at stake.

It is and always will be a gray area.

But wherever that grey area ends, the mass violations of the civil rights of millions of citizens of friendly nations is so far in the black I'm constantly surprised people even bring up the question.

This isn't even about where the unwritten boundaries of intelligence gathering are. Those have been well and truly crossed when you start violating the civil rights of millions of innocents.

The grey area the NSA has crossed into is the one marked "hostile acts of aggression".