Five Eyes Spying Alliance Will Survive Edward Snowden

[icyfroth]

 Britain needed US intelligence to help thwart a major terror attack. New Zealand relied on it to send troops to Afghanistan. And Australia used it to help convict a would-be bomber.

All feats were the result of a spying alliance known as Five Eyes that groups together five English-speaking democracies, and they point to a vital lesson: American information is so valuable, experts say, that no amount of global outrage over secret US surveillance powers would cause Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to ditch the Five Eyes relationship.

The broader message is that the revelations from NSA leaker Edward Snowden are unlikely to stop or even slow the global growth of secret-hunting – an increasingly critical factor in the security and prosperity of nations.

 http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/security-it/five-eyes-spying-alliance-will-survive-edward-snowden-exper...

In the decades since World War II, the allies have formed various other intelligence allegiances, although few as comprehensive or deep as Five Eyes. While the Snowden revelations will test the relationship, it has survived tests in the past.

New Zealand has long asserted an independent foreign policy by banning nuclear ships, and some are now calling for the country to go further and opt out of Five Eyes. Russel Norman, co-leader of New Zealand's Green Party, is one of many people calling for a public review of the relationship.

"I want to live in a free society, not a total surveillance state," he said. "The old Anglo-American gang of five no longer runs the world."

Totally agree. But I think the old gang do still run the world.

I wonder what they know and act on and mislead or misinform the public. Or stuff they know and don't act on.

[icyfroth]

 Britain needed US intelligence to help thwart a major terror attack. New Zealand relied on it to send troops to Afghanistan. And Australia used it to help convict a would-be bomber.

All feats were the result of a spying alliance known as Five Eyes that groups together five English-speaking democracies, and they point to a vital lesson: American information is so valuable, experts say, that no amount of global outrage over secret US surveillance powers would cause Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to ditch the Five Eyes relationship.

The broader message is that the revelations from NSA leaker Edward Snowden are unlikely to stop or even slow the global growth of secret-hunting – an increasingly critical factor in the security and prosperity of nations.

 http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/security-it/five-eyes-spying-alliance-will-survive-edward-snowden-exper...

In the decades since World War II, the allies have formed various other intelligence allegiances, although few as comprehensive or deep as Five Eyes. While the Snowden revelations will test the relationship, it has survived tests in the past.

New Zealand has long asserted an independent foreign policy by banning nuclear ships, and some are now calling for the country to go further and opt out of Five Eyes. Russel Norman, co-leader of New Zealand's Green Party, is one of many people calling for a public review of the relationship.

"I want to live in a free society, not a total surveillance state," he said. "The old Anglo-American gang of five no longer runs the world."

Totally agree. But I think the old gang do still run the world.

I wonder what they know and act on and mislead or misinform the public. Or stuff they know and don't act on.

[spotweldersfriend]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/16/gordon-humphrey-email-edward-snowden

[kilroy_is_here]

So you would rather live in a world where our enemies are free to plot & scheme, using technology against us, where we are in the dark as to what threats are around the corner or where they are coming from.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance payed for in the currency of the relm , the blood of our youth.
It is not pleasant but it is a fact

[whispering_chinwaggers_are_calling_me]

---

@kilroy_is_here wrote:
So you would rather live in a world where our enemies are free to plot & scheme, using technology against us, where we are in the dark as to what threats are around the corner or where they are coming from.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance payed for in the currency of the relm , the blood of our youth.
It is not pleasant but it is a fact

---

uuhhhmmm they already are doing that LOL that is what it is all about. the governments treating their citizens like criminals, stripping away their rights, spying on US.

once upon a time the police needed a search warrant to search your house and you find it perfectly fine when they look through your computer?

i don't. there is a thingie called privacy. or there once was.

[spotweldersfriend]

I sometimes wonder who our enemies are.

[auction_assassin]

Sept 10 2001, Wall Street firms noticed a huge spike in stock market bets predicting American Airlines and United Airlines share prices would drop.... 

[whispering_chinwaggers_are_calling_me]

i don't think it is ok to treat everyone like a criminal.

i don't like to open my bags in shops. if they think i stole something blardy well call the police, otherwise leave me alone.

i am a paying customer (and i find it impertinent to treat me like a thief without ANY prove) but only until my bag is searched. then i become a customer of the competitor of the shop that searched my bags.

[icyfroth]

Spying on your enemies has been around since time immemorial, Kilroy, and is necessary in warfare or border security of course.

Surveillance on civilians is agains civil rights.

“Mr Snowden said that the other partners in the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence alliance of the US, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand ‘sometimes go even further than the [National Security Agency] people themselves.’

“He highlighted the British Government Communications Headquarters ‘Tempora’ program as an example: ‘Tempora is the first “I save everything” approach (“full take”) in the intelligence world. It sucks in all data, no matter what it is, and which rights are violated by it. ... Right now, the system is capable of saving three days' worth of traffic, but that will be optimised. Three days may perhaps not sound like a lot, but it's not just about connection metadata. “Full take” means that the system saves everything. If you send a data packet and if makes its way through the UK, we will get it. If you download anything, and the server is in the UK, then we get it.’

[*elizabeths-mum*]

I wish my life was interesting enough that someone would want to spy on me.  I have no problem opening my bag for the door person at the shops, wouldn't have a problem if my computer was looked at (would have welcomed it some years ago to disprove forum accusations) I probably wouldn't like being strip searched but I don't like pap smears, mammograms or childbirth much either so would put up with it done professionally. Overall, I have no problem putting government agencies to sleep listening to my phone calls or watching me dig weeds from a hidden spot as long as they are watching the people who are worth watching as well. 

[five_eyes]

Oh NO!!!

I've been outed...

No more ducking down to Bunnings in my anonymous grub gear, now I'll have to wear my undies on the outside of my Lycra superhero kit.