White House apologizes to British government over spying claims

[Straw Man]

Wow -every day it's a pathetic new low point for our POTUS and by extension our country

forced to not only apologize but had to give assurances it won't be repeated

Trump looks like the chastised child

Maybe, just maybe he's starting to realize he's destroying what marginal amount of credibility he has left

The White House has apologized to the British government after alleging that a UK intelligence agency spied on President Donald Trump at the behest of former President Barack Obama.

"We've made clear to the US administration that these claims are ridiculous and should be ignored. We've received assurances that these allegations won't be repeated," May's spokesman said.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/17/politics/gchq-trump-wiretap-denial/index.html

[Yamcha]

Wow -every day it's a pathetic new low point for our POTUS and by extension our country

forced to not only apologize but had to give assurances it won't be repeated

Trump looks like the chastised child

Maybe, just maybe he's starting to realize he's destroying what marginal amount of credibility he has left

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/17/politics/gchq-trump-wiretap-denial/index.html

Did POTUS make these claims or was it Fox's Judge Nepolitano (using anonymous sources)?

I have been out of the loop for the past few days.

[Straw Man]

Did POTUS make these claims or was it Fox's Judge Nepolitano (using anonymous sources)?

I have been out of the loop for the past few days.

White House SpokesLiar repeated them and he literally speaks for the White House

[Yamcha]

White House SpokesLiar repeated them and he literally speaks for the White House

Got ya... yikes.






Can't be talking about what the media has been reporting on since January

"Security sources stress that MI6 had extensive information, British and international, on the Russian threat apart from that of Mr Steele. But they pointed out that he is held in high regard and the contribution he provided was valuable."

...

Mr Steele had, in fact, a highly successful career in MI6, received a number of commendations and is highly regarded by both British and American intelligence agencies. Mr Clapper pointed out that what he had actually said was that the intelligence service “has not made any judgement that the information in this document is reliable”.

The information Mr Steele, who had been hired by political opponents of Mr Trump, gave to MI6 was disseminated through the UK’s intelligence agencies including GCHQ who provided assessment to their American counterparts, the National Security Agency (NSA).

...

Security sources stress that the material Mr Steele had provided was very much “raw humint” (human intelligence) and that GCHQ had used its technological means to carry out its investigation.

...

Senior officials could not confirm media reports at the weekend that reassurance has been sought by London from the CIA that the identities of British agents in Russia will be protected in shared intelligence, with concerns about links between Mr Trump’s team and Moscow. One official said that the understanding was that unauthorised people should not have access to such detail in anything classified which is passed on.

The threat of outside interference in coming elections in France, Germany and, possibly, Italy, has led to greater liaison between Western intelligence services in which, say officials, US agencies continue to play a full part.

http://www.independent.co.uk/guy-a7528681.html

[Straw Man]

Got ya... yikes.






Can't be talking about what the media has been reporting on since January

"Security sources stress that MI6 had extensive information, British and international, on the Russian threat apart from that of Mr Steele. But they pointed out that he is held in high regard and the contribution he provided was valuable."

...

Mr Steele had, in fact, a highly successful career in MI6, received a number of commendations and is highly regarded by both British and American intelligence agencies. Mr Clapper pointed out that what he had actually said was that the intelligence service “has not made any judgement that the information in this document is reliable”.

The information Mr Steele, who had been hired by political opponents of Mr Trump, gave to MI6 was disseminated through the UK’s intelligence agencies including GCHQ who provided assessment to their American counterparts, the National Security Agency (NSA).

...

Security sources stress that the material Mr Steele had provided was very much “raw humint” (human intelligence) and that GCHQ had used its technological means to carry out its investigation.

...

Senior officials could not confirm media reports at the weekend that reassurance has been sought by London from the CIA that the identities of British agents in Russia will be protected in shared intelligence, with concerns about links between Mr Trump’s team and Moscow. One official said that the understanding was that unauthorised people should not have access to such detail in anything classified which is passed on.

The threat of outside interference in coming elections in France, Germany and, possibly, Italy, has led to greater liaison between Western intelligence services in which, say officials, US agencies continue to play a full part.

http://www.independent.co.uk/guy-a7528681.html

you're correct

it's not the same thing

not sure why you wanted to point that out but ...ok

[Yamcha]

you're correct

it's not the same thing

not sure why you wanted to point that out but ...ok

The British intelligence agencies were spying on Trump/Russian "connection" and sharing their findings with US intelligence... can we agree on that much?


If so, why?

[Skeeter]

The British intelligence agencies were spying on Trump/Russian "connection" and sharing their findings with US intelligence... can we agree on that much?


If so, why?

US and UK are both five eyes countries. They share intelligence regarding communications with Russia.

[Straw Man]

The British intelligence agencies were spying on Trump/Russian "connection" and sharing their findings with US intelligence... can we agree on that much?


If so, why?

seems likely but yet again NOT the thing that Spicer was referring to which is why the White House not only apologized but had to assure the Brits it wouldn't happen again

Trump is now officially at the children's table among world leaders

[Yamcha]

US and UK are both five eyes countries. They share intelligence regarding communications with Russia.

Okay... Now, the UK can intentionally spy on a US citizen and share that data with the US Intelligence agency, which circumvents laws preventing each agency from spying on its own citizens. (We, as citizens, have little oversight that this does not happen.)

Can you prove that Obama did NOT ask the UK to gather info. on Trump and his campaign? No.

Can I prove that Obama DID ask the UK to gather info. on Trump and his campaign? No.

Is it possible that Obama asked the UK to gather info on Trump and his campaign? Yes.

Did 3 sources within the US intelligence agency say that Obama used the UK to gather intel on Trump and his campaign? Yes.


I'm not sure why the White House had to "apologize" -- If you watched the Press Briefing from yesterday, Spicer spent about 10 minutes reading various news articles snippets since January 20th "wiretapping" NYT headline.  He mentioned the Fox News/Nepolitano story, not exactly endorsing the story itself but showing the breadth of 'sources' and the media's response.  Just set up a timeline for the journalists who were acting like they had all the answers.

I can post the entire Press Briefing on here if you guys would like to refute.

[Skeeter]

Okay... Now, the UK can intentionally spy on a US citizen and share that data with the US Intelligence agency, which circumvents laws preventing each agency from spying on its own citizens. (We, as citizens, have little oversight that this does not happen.)

Can you prove that Obama did NOT ask the UK to gather info. on Trump and his campaign? No.

Can I prove that Obama DID ask the UK to gather info. on Trump and his campaign? No.

Is it possible that Obama asked the UK to gather info on Trump and his campaign? Yes.

Did 3 sources within the US intelligence agency say that Obama used the UK to gather intel on Trump and his campaign? Yes.


I'm not sure why the White House had to "apologize" -- If you watched the Press Briefing from yesterday, Spicer spent about 10 minutes reading various news articles snippets since January 20th "wiretapping" NYT headline.  He mentioned the Fox News/Nepolitano story, not exactly endorsing the story itself but showing the breadth of 'sources' and the media's response.  Just set up a timeline for the journalists who were acting like they had all the answers.

I can post the entire Press Briefing on here if you guys would like to refute.

The burden of proof is on the one making the claim. The original claim was by Trump that Obama tapped his phones. He has yet to offer proof.
The added claim by fox news is that the surveillance was done by the UK. The UK says that's bollocks.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/16/gchq-denies-wiretap-claim-trump-obama

Given Trump's history of lies and theatrics I don't think anyone is being irrational by not believing any of this.

[Nick Danger]

Travel ban blocked...again

Health Care bill in chaos

Getting flack from all sides regarding Obama wire tap.

Accuses British intelligence in aiding Obama surveillance...White House has to backtrack.

Trump has to stand and listen to Ireland's Enda Kenny talk about the benefits of immigration.

Trump Budget facing major scrutiny.

Good week...WINNING!

[Straw Man]

I can't find the story of the White House apology to the UK anywhere on Fox News

I assume they'll be reporting on it soon

Hard to imagine an apology to our ally over sharing a bogus claim on a Faux News show would not be "news"

If Obama's spokesperson had shared a bogus claim from MSNBC as "news" it would be THE ONLY thing they would be talking about on every Faux News show

Hopefully I just missed it and they are reporting it

They are still reporting this so if you only get your "news" from Faux News then the White House apology never happened

[mass243]

That's quite bad.
Being forced to make an public apology can be viewed as one of the biggest humiliations in diplomatic spheres.

Look at how hard and huge process it usually is for a country to apologize something. You see it extremely rarely.


I wonder if Trump's lack of diplomatic experience was taken advantage of.


edit: assuming it was an actual apology. I haven't found line like that yet from Trump administration's mouth.

[mass243]

OK, it was fake news again.
Trump administration haven't issued an apology.

[Yamcha]

OK, it was fake news again.
Trump administration haven't issued an apology.

From OP's article... "A senior administration official told CNN that Spicer and McMaster offered what amounted to an apology to the British government."

[Yamcha]

The burden of proof is on the one making the claim. The original claim was by Trump that Obama tapped his phones. He has yet to offer proof.
The added claim by fox news is that the surveillance was done by the UK. The UK says that's bollocks.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/16/gchq-denies-wiretap-claim-trump-obama

Given Trump's history of lies and theatrics I don't think anyone is being irrational by not believing any of this.

I agree. It is on Trump. He has until March 20th to give proof of his claims.

[Yamcha]

.@POTUS to Merkel: "As far as wiretapping, I guess, this past administration - at least we have something in common perhaps."

[mazrim]

OK, it was fake news again.
Trump administration haven't issued an apology.

Embarrassing again. The article on CNN even has no apologies in it but title says "White House apologizes". Click bait that they fell for again.

[mazrim]

From OP's article... "A senior administration official told CNN that Spicer and McMaster offered what amounted to an apology to the British government."

This sounds a lot like an "unnamed source has pointed to collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign" but we have no proof. All in the wording, the OP who started this thread is making it seem like a huge "apology". More innuendo.

Article basically says that they contacted each other and British know it was stated as simply a piece in Spicer's taking what the media said/has said to point out that they were the ones implying Trump was under surveillance/investigation. They were the ones who put out the reports. To continue to push/state the British issue would be silly after that as well as a big no-no. Just was an example used among many. Both the US and British know that.

[andreisdaman]

How long can the crazy neocons on this board continue to support Trump

[Nick Danger]

This sounds a lot like an "unnamed source has pointed to collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign" but we have no proof. All in the wording, the OP who started this thread is making it seem like a huge "apology". More innuendo.

"Intelligence sources told The Telegraph that both Mr Spicer and General McMaster, the US National Security Adviser, have apologised over the claims. "The apology came direct from them," a source said.

General McMaster contacted Sir Mark Lyall Grant, the Prime Minister's National Security adviser, to apologise for the comments. Mr Spicer conveyed his apology through Sir Kim Darroch, Britain's US ambassador".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/17/us-makes-formal-apology-britain-white-house-accuses-gchq-wiretapping/

[Straw Man]

White House changes there story again and original link which was about the apology and assurance it will never happen again is now showing a "no apology" headline

This White House is a cluster fuck of juveniles

[andreisdaman]

White House changes there story again and original link which was about the apology and assurance it will never happen again is now showing a "no apology" headline

This White House is a cluster fuck of juveniles

This is getting really scary....our country is really in trouble

[Soul Crusher]

This is getting really scary....our country is really in trouble

As long as your check shows up and Straw can marry his BF - you two are just fine. 

[Yamcha]

There's still time for you guys to get out!