Diplomats Fret About German Classical Liberals

Third Party and Independent Daily points to an interesting item in the WikiLeaks cables:

The recent Wikileaks diplomatic document dump contains a cable from shortly before Germany's 2009 general election, articulating worries among US diplomats that the German Free Democratic Party's strong support for individual data privacy and protections against unreasonable search and seizure might hinder the efforts of the American national security state….The cable frames the FDP's support for citizens' privacy rights and individual liberties as a hindrance to US security strategy, and states that, if it were to join a ruling coalition in Germany, the party would scrutinize any proposals that would require sharing or accessing of information concerning private individuals. The cable faults the party's "limited government viewpoint" for its opposition to data-sharing measures that would infringe on the privacy rights of individuals.

In a most ironic turn, the leaked cable scoffs at FDP Parliamentarian Gisela Piltz, who cautioned against data-sharing operations with the US government on the grounds that the US government as a whole lacks effective data protection measures even as it accumulates massive amounts of data on innocent citizens.

Comments

[hmm]

The US government is going to be sucking foot for a long time. But not long enough.

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[Mike in PA]

Oh OK, so our own diplomats are afraid that some foreign government might become more like we're supposed to be? And that's a problem to them?

I must say I love how this is turning out! Remember "quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"

[R C Dean]

That "ironic turn" is pure comedy gold.

support for individual data privacy and protections against unreasonable search and seizure might hinder the efforts of the American national security state

Indeed. Apparently, the security fetishists who like to say "freedom isn't free" are unaware that it cuts both ways.

[affenkopf]

No worry for the US. The FDP has shown time & time again that they are more than willing to sell out any of their principles.

[wylie]

So, German politicians are politicians too? No way.

[dbcooper]

Earns a cynical guffaw from me.

[Rrabbiit]

Yep. As this is well-known, one has to wonder how clueless the diplomat is who wrote that message.

[US Guv]

I don't understand how this could have happened. I used a password. "12345", same as on my luggage!

[Space Balls]

That's the kind of password an idiot would have on his luggage!

[Anonymous Coward]

US diplomats that the German Free Democratic Party's strong support for individual data privacy and protections against unreasonable search and seizure might hinder the efforts of the American national securitypolice state.

Fixed. Who could have foreseen a world in which a group of German politicians sound the alarm for individual rights to the distress of American officials?

[Irresponsible Hater]

Apparently "trust us" is even less convincing in 'Merican as it is in Deutschtongue. Who knew?

[Tulpa]

You know who else fretted about German liberals...

[Almanian]

Oh, the irony, it burns

[Fist of Etiquette]

...even as it accumulates massive amounts of data on innocent citizens.

If those citizens are so innocent then they have nothing to fear from having their data available for all to see.

[Hobo Chang Ba]

The same is true for politicians, the military and diplomats, then.

[Hobo Chang Ba]

Germans invented the word "schadenfraude" as well. I believe it's fitting.

[Isaac Bartram]

Really, so how do you say "schadenfreude" in German?

[P Brooks]

In a most ironic turn, the leaked cable scoffs at FDP Parliamentarian Gisela Piltz, who cautioned against data-sharing operations with the US government on the grounds that the US government as a whole lacks effective data protection measures even as it accumulates massive amounts of data on innocent citizens.

Nice.