The new Free Thinking Global Leaders will NOT march any more to Washingtons drums.
- The move comes amid allegations that the U.S. spied electronically on Brazilian politicians.
The Wall Street Journal
By TOM MURPHY and
PAULO TREVISANI
17 September 2013
BRASILIA—President Dilma Rousseff called off a U.S. state visit planned for October as a protest against allegations the Obama administration spied electronically on Brazilian politicians, including the country's leader.
The allegations were triggered by documents the White House alleges were illegally released by the former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden and have strained American ties with Brazil, Latin America's biggest country.
President Barack Obama phoned his Brazilian counterpart Monday night, the White House said, to renew the invitation and to state his commitment to working with Ms. Rousseff to repair the damage over the allegations.
In a statement, the White House said, "The president has said that he understands and regrets the concerns disclosures of alleged U.S. intelligence activities have generated in Brazil and made clear that he is committed to working together with President Rousseff and her government in diplomatic channels to move beyond this issue as a source of tension in our bilateral relationship."
Mr. Obama said he has directed a broad review of U.S. intelligence, but the process will take several months, the statement said.
"I think it's because the relationship is so important and has so many facets, that the president agrees with this decision," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.
Over the past two weeks, a Brazilian television news program revealed what it described as National Security Agency slides it said were provided by Mr. Snowden that appeared to show spying both on Ms. Rousseff and on the government-run oil company, Petroleo Brasileiro SA.
In a Tuesday statement, the Brazilian president's office said the U.S. hasn't provided a full explanation of what happened, nor has it undertaken a commitment to cease any activities, which means "conditions aren't in place" for the visit.
"The illegal practices of intercepting communications and data of citizens, companies and members of the Brazilian government are very serious, impacting national sovereignty and individual rights," the statement said, adding that the Oct. 23 visit could be rescheduled once the spying issue is resolved.
The U.S. sees Brazil as a potential moderating force in a region where countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and Cuba are openly hostile to the Washington. The White House invitation for Ms. Rousseff to attend a high-profile state dinner was the only such invitation Mr. Obama has extended this year to any head of state.
original article found here
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