Don't Read This Post: or Is America a Police State Too? Part Two

An issue that took far too long to reach mainstream media was NSA surveillance. The NSA started spying heavily on US citizens quickly after 9/11. For those who don't know, the NSA has access to anyone's phone records, as well as internet history. This includes real time internet browsing and live phone calls. The NSA's website states its mission as:

"The National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) leads the U.S. Government in cryptology that encompasses both Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and Information Assurance (IA) products and services, and enables Computer Network Operations (CNO) in order to gain a decision advantage for the Nation and our allies under all circumstances."

One word I'd like to specifically point out is our "allies." It has been revealed that the NSA has been collecting information on 122 international leaders around the world in May 2009 alone. This includes German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as countless German citizens.
 
German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Even former President Jimmy Carter recently came out saying that he uses old fashioned mail because he believes the NSA is reading his emails. This led to NSA Director stating that the NSA isn't spying on him because "The reality is we don't do that, and if we did it would be illegal and we'd be ... held accountable and responsible."

Apparently, the rest of the world is getting tired of our invasive behavior. A UN human rights report attacked the US' inefficient NSA oversight, our use of drones, and the unjust length of jail sentences to minorities for drug charges. They stated that the US should: “reform the current system of oversight over surveillance activities." This oversight would use a judicial system to ensure that the NSA stays within the rights of US citizens as well as other countries the US apparently needs to spy on.   It would be one thing if the NSA actually contributed positively, but how did the Boston bombing manage to happen if the NSA was an efficient program?

The UN report also stated that the US should “take all feasible measures to ensure the protection of civilians in specific drone attacks and to track and assess civilian casualties as well as all necessary precautionary measures in order to avoid such casualties.” The use of drones has become a major issue since Obama took office. Over 2000 civilians have died to drone strikes since his presidency started.

The deaths in these drone strikes include many children as well.The UN suggests that the US should “establish accountability mechanisms for victims of allegedly unlawful drone attacks who are not compensated by their home governments.” The US almost doesn't hold itself accountable for its drone strikes. This is very unfair and only creates more hatred in the Middle East.

With how negative this report is on the US I don't even need to point out that this wasn't reported on major US news stations.  News of "Big Brother's" unconstitutional behavior seems to be rarer than it should be.

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/3/27/us-human-rights-reportun.html
http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.582679
 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/gchq-and-nsa-targeted-private-german-companies-a-961444.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/25/keith-alexander-jimmy-carter_n_5031701.html#slide=3074346