Prism Exposed: Data Surveillance with Global Implications

Prism Exposed: Data Surveillance with Global Implications

SPIEGEL ONLINE - June 10, 2013

The American intelligence director and the White House have finally confirmed what insiders have long known: The Obama administration is spying on the entire world. Politicians in Germany are demanding answers. By Marcel Rosenbach, Holger Stark and Jonathan Stock more... Comment ]

NSA Whistleblower: 'I Do Not Expect To See Home Again'

NSA Whistleblower: 'I Do Not Expect To See Home Again'

SPIEGEL ONLINE - June 10, 2013

He was once a cog in the US intelligence apparatus, but 29-year-old ex-CIA employee Edward Snowden has admitted to making one of the biggest intelligence leaks in history. He now faces severe consequences -- but President Obama also has a lot to answer for. By Marc Pitzke more... Comment ]

Conflicting Statements: Drone Troubles Mount for Minister

Conflicting Statements: Drone Troubles Mount for Minister

SPIEGEL ONLINE - June 10, 2013

German Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière rejected calls to resign on Monday over losses from the Euro Hawk drone project. But he admitted knowing about the problems sooner than he had indicated last week and now faces a parliamentary investigation. more...

World from Berlin: Drone Debacle 'Extremely Embarrassing'

World from Berlin: Drone Debacle 'Extremely Embarrassing'

SPIEGEL ONLINE - June 06, 2013

The cancellation of the Euro Hawk surveillance drone program means the waste of a half billion euros in German taxpayer money. But somehow Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziére seems to have survived the debacle. German commentators wonder why. more... Comment ]

15 Months of Silence: Defense Ministry Knew of Drone Problems

15 Months of Silence: Defense Ministry Knew of Drone Problems

SPIEGEL ONLINE - June 03, 2013

Pressure on German Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière has increased this week on revelations that his ministry knew of problems facing Berlin's now-cancelled surveillance drone program over a year ago, but did nothing. NATO now fears that Germany will withdraw from the alliance's own drone project. By SPIEGEL Staff more... Comment ]

Angela Merkel on Europe: 'We Are All in the Same Boat'

Angela Merkel on Europe: 'We Are All in the Same Boat'

SPIEGEL ONLINE - June 03, 2013

In a SPIEGEL interview, Chancellor Angela Merkel discusses Germany's power in the euro crisis and explains why the country exports weapons to authoritarian regimes like Saudi Arabia. more... Comment ]

Campaign Headache: Drone Debacle Could Cost Merkel a Minister

Campaign Headache: Drone Debacle Could Cost Merkel a Minister

SPIEGEL ONLINE - May 28, 2013

German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziére is under fire after he cancelled a half-billion euro surveillance drone program that he knew was in trouble years ago. The scandal could create problems for Chancellor Merkel's re-election campaign. By SPIEGEL Staff more... Comment ]

Arms Exports: Berlin Approves Huge Tank Deal with Indonesia

Arms Exports: Berlin Approves Huge Tank Deal with Indonesia

SPIEGEL ONLINE - May 08, 2013

In recent years, Chancellor Angela Merkel's government has significantly expanded German arms exports abroad, often to countries with questionable human rights records. Now Berlin has approved a deal to export over 100 tanks to Indonesia. By Matthias Gebauer and Otfried Nassauer more... Comment ]

Cyber Menace: Digital Spying Burdens German-Chinese Relations

Cyber Menace: Digital Spying Burdens German-Chinese Relations

SPIEGEL ONLINE - February 25, 2013

Companies like defense giant EADS or steelmaker ThyssenKrupp have become the targets of hacker attacks from China. The digitial espionage is creating a problem for relations between Berlin and Beijing, but Chancellor Angela Merkel has shied away from taking firm action. By SPIEGEL Staff more... Comment ]

European Obstruction: NATO Reforms Moving at 'Snail's Pace'

European Obstruction: NATO Reforms Moving at 'Snail's Pace'

SPIEGEL ONLINE - February 25, 2013

NATO members committed themselves last year to reforming the alliance, with pledges from Europe to boost its military capabilities to ease the burden on the US. But a confidential analysis by the German government finds that virtually no progress has been made -- and that it's mainly the Europeans' fault. By Matthias Gebauer, Ralf Neukirch, Gordon Repinski and Christoph Schult more...

Drones and Democracy: A Legal Question, But also One of Policy

Drones and Democracy: A Legal Question, But also One of Policy

SPIEGEL ONLINE - February 08, 2013

The leak this week of a Justice Department memo justifying targeted drone killings of Americans abroad has opened President Obama to criticism and drawn comparisons to the Bush administration's notorious "torture memos." The document isn't on the same scale, but Congress should continue asking tough questions. A Commentary By Eugene R. Fidell more... Comment ]