Even more than Dianne Feinstein's so-called reversal on the NSA, I'm intrigued by John McCain's.
"We have always eavesdropped on people around the world. But the advance of technology has given us enormous capabilities, and I think you might make an argument that some of this capability has been very offensive both to us and to our allies," McCain said. "Eavesdropping on someone's private cellphone obviously is something that is offensive to the chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany." [snip] "I think it may even call for a select committee, perhaps even bicameral, when you look at the damage that this has done to our relationship with some of our closest friends and allies," said McCain, who was the unsuccessful GOP presidential nominee pitted against Obama in 2008. Still, McCain noted that foreign governments are not "innocent" because they also have spied on the U.S. government.
In the past, McCain hasn't been uncritical in his comments on NSA, but he has used it to fearmonger about terrorists. More tellingly, he favors NSA taking the lead in Internet monitoring for domestic cybersecurity, effectively advocating for domestic spying. And yet now he's squeamish because we're wiretapping leaders of other countries?
Sure, it may be he's just latching onto an issue to attack Obama on. Though who needs a new one given that 60 Minutes has resuscitated the old one?
Of course, McCain is the kind of guy who likes to freelance on foreign policy issues, frequently to pressure Obama from the right. And I can't help but note that Bibi Netanyahu and Obama spoke today for no apparent reason aside from "regular consultations."
President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke by phone today as part of their regular consultations. The two leaders discussed recent developments related to Iran, Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and other regional issues. The two leaders agreed to continue their close coordination on a range of security issues.
While there has been no public report that we tapped Bibi, and while I'm sure the Israelis take his security very seriously, he's precisely the kind of frenemy I could see the government prioritizing. And while I'm sure Germany spies on us (ineffectively), McCain knows that Israel spies on (and hacks) us extensively, making it a more apt reference as a country that is itself not "innocent."
Just a gut feel: when the Section 215 database got revealed, a wide range of Senators were up in arms until, in secret briefings, they all of a sudden learned something that calmed their nerves (I strongly believe NSA strips congressional numbers from the Section 215 database on intake). And I think it not outside the realm of possibility that McCain has shown newfound concern about NSA upon learning one of his interlocutors might be targeted as well.
More from Emptywheel:
One Day after Rolling Out "Comprehensive Review," Feinstein Proceeds with Mark-Up Anyway
The White House -- Lisa Monaco? -- "Cutting Off the Intelligence Community"
Civil Libertarians to Dianne Feinstein: We Told You So
Photo: Flickr user Medill DC, creative commons licensed.