Asserting that US surveillance programmes have saved thousands of lives both at home and abroad, an influential American lawmaker today said President President Barack Obama should not be defensive and stop apologising.
"I think the President should stop apologising, stop being defensive. The reality is the NSA (National Security Agency) has saved thousands of lives, not just in the US but also in France and Germany and throughout Europe," Congressman Peter King told the NBC news.
"The fact is they've (the French) carried out spying operations against US, both the government and industry. As far as Germany, that's where the Hamburg plot began, which led to 9/11. They've had dealings with Iran and Iraq, North Korea, the French and the Germans, other European countries," King argued.
"We're not doing this for the fun of it. This is to gather valuable intelligence, which helps not just us but also helps the Europeans," he said, arguing that the US does share intelligence with its allies and friends.
"We do share intelligence, and we've saved many lives in Germany because of the intelligence we've given them. We are not doing this to hurt Germany, but the fact is there can be information that's being transmitted that can be useful to us and then ultimately useful to Germany," he said.
Whistleblower Edward Snowden, the former CIA contractor who leaked the classified information to the media, he said is causing tremendous damage to the country.
"We shouldn't be on defence. I think the President, the NSA has done so much for our country and so much to help this President in his term -- he should be out there. He's the commander in chief. He should stand with NSA. He should go out and visit and Fort Meade and be there with General Alexander and the troops there," King said.
