Church of God News

Here is the press release from Wikileaks:

Today, 23 June 2015, WikiLeaks began publishing “Espionnage Élysée”, a collection of TOP SECRET intelligence reports and technical documents from the US National Security Agency (NSA) concerning targeting and signals intelligence intercepts of the communications of high-level officials from successive French governments over the last ten years.

The top secret documents derive from directly targeted NSA surveillance of the communications of French Presidents Francois Hollande (2012–present), Nicolas Sarkozy (2007–2012), and Jacques Chirac (1995–2007), as well as French cabinet ministers and the French Ambassador to the United States. The documents also contain the “selectors” from the target list, detailing the cell phone numbers of numerous officials in the Elysee up to and including the direct cell phone of the President.

Prominent within the top secret cache of documents are intelligence summaries of conversations between French government officials concerning some of the most pressing issues facing France and the international community, including the global financial crisis, the Greek debt crisis, the leadership and future of the European Union, the relationship between the Hollande administration and the German government of Angela Merkel, French efforts to determine the make-up of the executive staff of the United Nations, French involvement in the conflict in Palestine and a dispute between the French and US governments over US spying on France.

A founding member state of the European Union and one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, France is formally a close ally of the United States, and plays a key role in a number of US-associated international institutions, including the Group of 7 (G7), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The revelation of the extent of US spying against French leaders and diplomats echoes a previous disclosure in the German press concerning US spying on the communications of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other German officials. That disclosure provoked a political scandal in Germany, eventuating in an official inquiry into German intelligence co-operation with the United States, which is still ongoing.

While the German disclosures focused on the isolated fact that senior officials were targeted by US intelligence, WikiLeaks’ publication today provides much greater insight into US spying on its allies, including the actual content of intelligence products deriving from the intercepts, showing how the US spies on the phone calls of French leaders and ministers for political, economic and diplomatic intelligence.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said: “The French people have a right to know that their elected government is subject to hostile surveillance from a supposed ally. We are proud of our work with leading French publishers Liberation and Mediapart to bring this story to light. French readers can expect more timely and important revelations in the near future.”

The French do not seem pleased with this.  Notice:

June 24, 2015

François Hollande calls emergency meeting after WikiLeaks reveals US spied on three French presidents

Documents show that American agents spied on Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy and Hollande, even listening to their phone calls

The French president, François Hollande, has called an emergency meeting of his country’s defence council for Wednesday morning after revelations that American agents spied on three successive French presidents between 2006 and 2012. According to WikiLeaks documents published late on Tuesday, even the French leaders’ mobile phone conversations were listened to and recorded.  http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/23/francois-hollande-emergency-meeting-wikileaks-us-spied-three-presidents-france

Later UPDATE (0700PDT):

June 24, 2015

France summoned U.S. Ambassador Jane Hartley Wednesday to complain about what President Francois Hollande called “unacceptable” spying on successive French leaders in allegations revealed by the whistleblowing website Wikileaks.

Hollande held an emergency meeting of his ministers and army commanders after revelations the U.S. National Security Agency had spied on former French Presidents Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy as well as Hollande from 2006 to 2012.

Hollande was also to discuss the documents with U.S. President Barack Obama later Wednesday.  http://www.voanews.com/content/us-says-not-targeting-hollandes-communications/2834993.html

June 24, 2015

The top floor of the U.S. Embassy, visible from France’s presidential Elysee Palace, reportedly was filled with spying equipment hidden behind trompe l’oeil paintings of windows, according to the Liberation newspaper, which partnered with WikiLeaks and the website Mediapart on the documents.

U.S. Ambassador Jane Hartley was summoned to the French Foreign Ministry. Hollande is also sending France’s top intelligence coordinator to the U.S. shortly, to ensure that promises made after earlier NSA spying revelations in 2013 and 2014 have been kept, the spokesman said.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the U.S. must do everything it can, and quickly, to “repair the damage” to U.S.-French relations from the revelations, which he called “a very serious violation of the spirit of trust” between the allies.

“If the fact of the revelations today does not constitute a real surprise for anyone, that in no way lessens the emotion and the anger. They are legitimate. France will not tolerate any action threatening its security and fundamental interests,” he said.

Government spokesman Stephane Le Foll told reporters “France does not listen in on its allies.” He added, “we reminded all (government) ministers to be vigilant in their conversations.” http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/06/24/world/europe/ap-eu-france-us-spying.html?_r=0

The French will remember this as an insult and a betrayal.

Later UPDATE (1200 PDT):

June 24, 2015

U.S. President Barack Obama reaffirmed to his French counterpart the United States’ commitment to end spying tactics considered “unacceptable” by its allies.

The conversation between Obama and President Francois Hollande occurred Wednesday, a day after whistleblower website WikiLeaks released documents that purported to show the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) had spied on former French Presidents Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy as well as Hollande, from 2006 to 2012.

“President Obama reiterated unequivocally his firm commitment … to end the practices that may have happened in the past and that are considered unacceptable among allies,” the French president’s office said in announcing the conversation.

The White House said later Wednesday Obama told Hollande that the U.S. was abiding by a commitment Obama made in 2013 not to spy on the French leader after Edward Snowden disclosed the extent of NSA surveillance powers.  http://www.voanews.com/content/us-says-not-targeting-hollandes-communications/2834993.html

As I have written before, Europe is not pleased with the reports of USA espionage.  Germans press reports stated that various ones in Germany would never get over this.  It is likely that the same can be said of some in France.

Because of this, expect more appeasement by the USA for Europe.  Perhaps I should add that now, maybe LCG will realize that its position that France may not support the final Beast power is in error (see details from LCG in the article Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?).  If there is much truth to these leaks, the French will be very upset with the USA, and certainly would be willing to turn against it when the time comes.

Diplomatically, I can see this espionage being brought up repeatedly as European officials ask for various concessions, military, communications, and perhaps even economic.  Also, by publicly agreeing not to spy on its allies, the USA faces the risk of worse problems in the future if it is caught spying on the Europeans, plus it is putting the Europeans in a position where they will be able to get away with more clandestine moves themselves as the USA will at least have to reduce espionage on them.  This will put the Europeans at an advantage and the USA at a disadvantage for a likely surprise attack from the Europeans.

Those who believed that the USA was earlier actually limiting its espionage in Europe towards just potential terrorists should finally realize that this has NOT been the case.

Those in the USA who believe that the government will not try to use information against them, better not be complacent with that.  While many who collect data probably feel that they are patriots and are helping the USA, the ‘collateral damage’ from parts of the espionage and data collection will not be good.

The USA and UK often have worked together on data collection and espionage, so it would not surprise me if the UK gets implicated in some of this as well.

Because of the Snowden leaks, USA President Barack Obama said that the USA would share its espionage techniques and more information with Germany in a form of appeasement. Then after the USA was caught having a double agent in Germany last year, it named a German officer to be in charge of the US Army in Europe.  Now with the French information, what else will the USA have to give up now and in the future?

It has long been my view, based upon biblical prophecy, that the Europeans will be surprised how relatively easy it will be to take over the USA when it is time (cf. Daniel 11:39; Revelation 13:4). The USA is being naive about these espionage leaks. They think that they are helpful and lead to peace.

But as the USA’s political and military leaders do not really believe and understand biblical prophecy, many falsely think their ways to peace will work and that they will be able to get past all of this. The Bible teaches otherwise (cf. Isaiah 59:8).

Some items of related interest may include:

The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben: France in Prophecy? What is the origin of this in France? What is prophesied to happen to them? A two-part sermon related to history and prophecy is available online: The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben and France and Prophecy.
The Snowden Leaks are Leading to the Destruction of the USA Can what happened with the leaks of what the NSA has done help the USA to be taken over? What does the Bible teach that seems to be related to this? Here is a related YouTube video titled Are the Snowden NSA leaks leading to the destruction of the USA?
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? What steps has the Obama Administration taken with Germany to assist thie? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous.
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the former German Defense Minister (who is also the former German Minister for Economics and Technology) one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a link to a video Is the USA Pushing Germany to Start WWIII?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.