[english subtitle/ german] Dr. Gregor Gysi (member of the Bundestag, left-wing party) on 18 Novembre 2013: "We are dealing with a scandal that has not yet occured in its extent in this way (...) I´m going to tell you about a trick: For the NSA it is in fact forbidden to spy on U.S. citizens in certain cases. Then the british service do the job and send their data. That´s the trick. That´s what it is about in reality! The whole is under the heading of combating terrorism, drug-related crime. A nationwide, comprehensive monitoring of the populations of almost all countries has something to do with the fight against terrorism and drug-related crime?? In which suspicion is actually our Chancellor, when her cell phone is bugged? I think by this reasoning it becomes preposterous. And, I have to say quite clearly: From the existence and extent of this monitoring system, we know only by Edward Snowden. It is his great merit. He is not a criminal! But he wants to protect the world´s population against crime! What he has already achieved? He has reached a different sensibility. I hope that things will change. Therefore, we owe thanks to Edward Snowden. There is a very nice statement of Christa Wolf´s novel Kassandra. It states: The same old story...that we would rather punish the one who names the fact, as the one who commits it: Exactly that has to be changed! Exactly that has to be changed! Furthermore, because of the changes we have experienced, I propose to give Edward Snowden the Nobel Peace Prize. He deserves it. Yes, I tell you, he deserves it! (interjection, protest) Yes, Yes, wheather they are based on my proposal is another question, but may I suggest it still? Or I may not anymore? Federal Minister Friedrich, you were in the United States. Then you came back and said you are now fully elucidated, it is all right. I must tell you: You have been lulled. You have been lulled! Or have you been told that they are working on listening to the Chancellor? And then the Chancellering Chief (Ronald) Pofalla says: "The issue is off the table, it´s all done!" (...) Let me be clear: Germany is only sovereign, if it hear Mr. Snowden, protect him, grant him asylum and organize his safe stay. Then Germany is sovereign, not before! If you say: "How?" - then I tell you: If our services cannot even grant this, then they should close down! This is really the least they must be able to guarantee. (...) There are shared values between the United States and Germany, but there are also wars like Vietnam, Afghanistan or Iraq, there was the military coup in Chile, in the assassination of Allende (see: Wikipedia: "United States intervention in Chile"). There is the Guantanamo detention camp where human rights are violated DAILY! There is the war with drones. A community of values is useless, if you do not practice significant criticism of the violation of values. And that´s exactly what you do NOT! I´m not Anti-American, not at all! I like to be in the U.S. and like to talk with the people there. But one thing I can tell you, that friendship, as you imagine, does not exist. With cowardice and chicken-hearted attitude no friendship can be reached, but the opposite. Only if we establish mutual respect, there can be a real friendship. All you need is SPUNK as the federal government. You must tell the U.S. Government: Enough is enough!! We hear Snowden and protect him. Then we´re truly sovereign. You have to demand: Negotiates with us at eye-level! Then we get back a friendship with the United States! What you do is cowardice. I know this for decades and I´m sick of it!! Yes, you have to have the spunk!!"

• published: 29 Nov 2013
• views: 104