John Young wrote:
The Wash Post today has picked up the hot European story of NSA's file on Princess Diana and linked it to the NSA's Echelon program.
This is the first US major media story on Echelon, and its connection to privacy invasion of a global celebrity icon may do more to get public attention for the vile program than any previous investigation and report.
The public's appetite for Echelon will be wetted when they pick up People magazine and turn to the section where celebrity exploits and indiscretions are transcripted and given a government stamp of authenticity, "NSA transcripts licensed for commercial release". Echelon is a goldmine, and more than a few people are tasked with exploring it's commercial viability. Clinton-Lewinski phone sex, Israeli intelligence using their NY publicist links to blackmail US politicians/Clinton. White House national security staff bursting Israel's hold on the President through a supremely well engineered public release of Clinton's indiscretions via the Paula Jones case. Middle East peace brokered by statesmen promising to keep mum on each other's transgressions. And, to add a touch of reality, impeachment hearings to punish the President for lying about spitting gum on the sidewalk... Books, movies and future governments are waiting for deals to be signed. $$$ Echelon's a goldmine gentlemen, and Diana and Wassenaar are the first hints of its commercial release. Voyeuristic history will be Echelon's legacy, the NSA will soon become the largest contributor to the National Archive and the booming entertainment economy.