WASHINGTON — Psst. Don’t fret, we tap everybody’s phones.
Looks like President Obama was whispering secrets in German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ear at the White House Friday.
Well, that would be a change. Normally the secrets go in the other direction, with US intelligence agencies tapping Merkel’s personal cellphone, according to disclosures by NSA leaker Edward Snowden.
After meeting at the White House on the crisis in Ukraine and other issues — their first powwow since news of the cellphone spying was revealed — neither could avoid the strains of the snooping controversy.
Obama hailed Merkel as “one of my closest friends on the world stage, and somebody whose partnership I deeply value.”
“And so it has pained me to see the degree to which the Snowden disclosures have created strains in the relationship,” Obama said, promising to continue a “cyber dialogue.”
Obama cited public “perceptions” that the US has capabilities “similar to what you see on movies and in television.”
But he said the US focus was “principally and primarily on how do we make sure that terrorists . . . are not able to engage in the activities that they’re engaging in.”
As the two sides failed to reach an agreement on US snooping in allied countries, Merkel acknowledged “differences of opinion” over what balance to strike between “the intensity of surveillance . . . [and] protecting individual privacy and individual freedom.”
The East German-born Merkel, who grew up in a surveillance state, said the issue would “require further discussion.”
“We do not have a blanket no-spy agreement with any country,” Obama said, referencing assurances sought by Germany.
But he vowed to work through “gaps” to make sure there are no “misunderstandings.”
As the crisis continued to mount in Ukraine, Obama threatened to slap a third round of sanctions on Russia if pro-Russia forces continue to cause unrest.
The key decision point will be Ukraine’s upcoming elections to bring in a permanent government, scheduled for May 25. If there are further disruptions that impede the elections, “we will not have a choice but to move forward with additional, more severe sanctions,” he warned.
Obama said it would be “unrealistic” to “turn off the tap” of all Russian oil and gas exports, but mentioned other areas that could be targeted. He mentioned arms, finance, and lines of credit for trade as areas that could have a “significant impact” on Russia.