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During Mr. Obamas presidency, no American political debate has received as much attention in Germany as the N.S.A. Prism program. People are beginning to second-guess the belief that digital communication stays private. It changes both our perception of communication and our trust in Mr. Obama.
Even as a Green Party politician, I wasnt impressed with Mr. Obamas focus on fighting global warming. While his renewed enthusiasm is appreciated, it served as a distraction from the criticism he is currently facing for allowing invasive state surveillance. He cannot simply change the subject.
His speech caused many Germans to question whether Americans actually share our understanding of the right balance between liberty and security. In the past, we celebrated the fact that both countries valued this balance, and there was huge solidarity with America after 9/11.
But the policy decisions of the Bush administration after the attacks from waterboarding to Guantánamo appalled Germans. We were shocked to see this mutual understanding disappear. Now we are not sure where Mr. Obama stands.
When courts and judges negotiate secretly, when direct data transfers occur without limits, when huge data storage rather than targeted pursuit of individuals becomes the norm, all sense of proportionality and accountability is lost.
While our respective security services still need to collaborate on both sides of the Atlantic to pursue and prevent organized crime and terrorism, it must be done in a way that strengthens civil liberties and does not reduce them. Although we would like to believe in the Mr. Obama we once knew, the trust and credibility he enjoyed in Germany have been undermined. The challenge we face is to once again find shared values, so that trust between our countries is restored.
Perhaps instead of including a quote from James Madison in his speech, arguing that No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare, Mr. Obama should have been reminded of the quote from another founding father, Benjamin Franklin, when he said, They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Even as a Green Party politician, I wasnt impressed with Mr. Obamas focus on fighting global warming. While his renewed enthusiasm is appreciated, it served as a distraction from the criticism he is currently facing for allowing invasive state surveillance. He cannot simply change the subject.
His speech caused many Germans to question whether Americans actually share our understanding of the right balance between liberty and security. In the past, we celebrated the fact that both countries valued this balance, and there was huge solidarity with America after 9/11.
But the policy decisions of the Bush administration after the attacks from waterboarding to Guantánamo appalled Germans. We were shocked to see this mutual understanding disappear. Now we are not sure where Mr. Obama stands.
When courts and judges negotiate secretly, when direct data transfers occur without limits, when huge data storage rather than targeted pursuit of individuals becomes the norm, all sense of proportionality and accountability is lost.
While our respective security services still need to collaborate on both sides of the Atlantic to pursue and prevent organized crime and terrorism, it must be done in a way that strengthens civil liberties and does not reduce them. Although we would like to believe in the Mr. Obama we once knew, the trust and credibility he enjoyed in Germany have been undermined. The challenge we face is to once again find shared values, so that trust between our countries is restored.
Perhaps instead of including a quote from James Madison in his speech, arguing that No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare, Mr. Obama should have been reminded of the quote from another founding father, Benjamin Franklin, when he said, They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
