Kerry: Some Spying Went 'Too Far'

Some practices to end after Obama's 'thorough' review
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 1, 2013 8:23 AM CDT
Kerry: Some Spying Went 'Too Far'
US Secretary of State John Kerry in Rome, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013.   (AP Photo/Claudio Peri, Pool)

The Guardian is calling it "the most stark comments yet by a senior administration official." John Kerry yesterday addressed US surveillance, and here are two stand-out quotes:

  • "The president and I have learned of some things that have been happening in many ways on an automatic pilot, because the technology is there and the ability is there."
  • "In some cases, some of these actions have reached too far and we are going to try to make sure it doesn't happen in the future."

The BBC reports that he said a promised review of practices would be "thorough" and end some unspecified activities. But he also issued words of defense: "I assure you, innocent people are not being abused in this process ... We have prevented airplanes from going down and buildings from being blown up because we have learned ahead of time of such plans." Meanwhile, a German MP met yesterday with Edward Snowden, who said he'd be willing to dig into the country's allegations against the US, and would even travel to Germany to testify. (More John Kerry stories.)

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