TheGuardian's latest spy article with a global map of data collection by the tool Boundless Informant has sparked outrage in France.
Because the European part of the map shows little activity for France but has Germany in orange, as befits the heavyweight in central Europe.
Says French official Mr. Poirot: "We are unhappy about this. We helped the Americans in their War of Independence, and they behave as if this was paid back by them helping us kick out the Nazis. Ever since, they have made fun of us, they renamed French fries, they don't want our raw milk cheese. Now, they ignore us in the world's biggest data collection effort. Historians going through the NSA archives will hardly find France. Oh, les Americans."
A spokesperson of the NSA explained: "Please accept our apologies. We are not trying to ignore the French, we value their data as much as anybody's and will improve our efforts with regard to our historic ally. We do not have sinister intentions, we simply don't have enough analysts who speak French."
Guardian reader comments have not failed to point out the prominent role of Germany as the only European country outside of the green color range, and they also point out the radio silence throughout much of the German press.
Meanwhile, some say the German government has gone fishing, and a German police union official really wants the American surveillance system in a big Me Too push.
Which kind of ignores the fact that German residents have had much tighter government oversight for many decades, for example, the requirement to register with town hall whenever you move.
One of the K-landnews folks suggested to send the Guardian a case of wine for both the information and the entertainment value of the spook series.
Not sure, replied TheEditor. Given the upset, they might be a little jittery if they receive any large packages from unfamiliar senders. Can we wait and see, please?
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