European lawmakers Call for Clarity on EU-US Data Transfers Over Privacy Fears.

European lawmakers Call for Clarity on EU-US Data Transfers Over Privacy Fears. (SP).

The lawmakers are debating the proposed text of the latest agreement with the US over the privacy of data related to EU citizens, held on US servers by multinational companies — called Privacy Shield.

The agreement has been under negotiation for months ever since the European Court of Justice ruled in October 2015 that the previous EU-US data agreement — Safe Harbor — was invalid. The issue arises from the strict EU laws — enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union — to the privacy of their personal data.

The Safe Harbor agreement was a quasi-judicial understanding that the US undertook to agree that it would ensure that EU citizens' data on US servers would be held and protected under the same restrictions as it would be under EU law and directives. The data covers a huge array of information — from Internet and communications usage, to sales transactions, import and exports.

The new proposed replacement — known as Privacy Shield — has been agreed after months of negotiation between the US and the EU and promises that: "for the first time, the US government has given the EU written assurance from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that any access of public authorities for national security purposes will be subject to clear limitations, safeguards and oversight mechanisms, preventing generalized access to personal data […] through an Ombudsperson mechanism within the Department of State, who will be independent from national security services."

However, lawmakers on the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee in the European Parliament have called-in the details over fears Privacy Shield has been drafted too loosely and will not protect the personal data of EU citizens.

Speaking on the Commission's proposal, the committee chair Claude Moraes said:

"The new framework […] has no written text and my first concern is that it has too much in common with the previous Safe Harbor decision. The announcement does not indicate any measures which are legally binding on either party, but relies on 'declaration' by the US authorities on their interpretation of the legal situation regarding surveillance by the US intelligence services.

"Another key concern is that the creation of an Ombudsman which could be a positive step forward in assessing the complaints of citizens does not seem to be underpinned in the current statement by sufficient legal powers," he said. Read the full story here. 

What's The Real Reason Behind Obama’s charm offensive in Israel?

What's The Real Reason Behind Obama’s charm offensive in Israel?HT: PowerlineBlog.By Paul Mirengoff. It seems clear to me, however, that Obama’s trip is primarily about Iran, not “peace” between Israelis and Palestinians. When Obama asks himself what can go wrong in his second administration, an Israeli attack on Iran must rank high on his list. Such an attack would scramble the playing board in unpredictable ways. Possible consequences include oil shortages, war in the Middle East, and terrorist attacks on U.S. interests.

It follows that dissuading Netanyahu from attacking Iran almost certainly is the primary objective of Obama’s visit. Accomplishing that objective requires that he put his relationship with Netanyahu, and with Israelis, on a better footing. At the same time, Obama will want to make clear to Netanyahu that Israel will pay a steep price in terms of its relationship with the U.S. if it proceeds unilaterally against Iran.

An obvious tension exists between these two requirements. Obama must somehow persuade Netanyahu that he will support an attack when the time is ripe, while (1) arguing that the time isn’t near ripe now and (2) preserving his flexibility to argue in the future that the time still isn’t ripe.

The Washington Post’s story about the purposes of Obama’s trip never gets around to mentioning Iran. This is ironic, since just above that story, the Post runs a lengthy article about how harsh economic sanctions have not weakened the Iranian regime’s grip on power or its resolve to develop nuclear weapons.

According to the Post, “U.S. and European officials and diplomats acknowledge that they are waiting for clear signs that Ayatollah Khamenei is willing to change course.” Are they really? Can they be that stupid? Hmmmm......Or is he willingly giving Iran the opportunity to wipe Israel of the map?Read the full story here.

Related: The Party's Over

Khamenei: Iran will destroy Tel Aviv if attacked

Khamenei: Iran will destroy Tel Aviv if attacked.(JPost).DUBAI - Iran's most powerful authority said the Islamic Republic would destroy the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa if Israel launched a military attack against it.

"At times the officials of the Zionist regime (Israel) threaten to launch a military invasion but they themselves know that if they make the slightest mistake the Islamic Republic will raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said during an address, broadcast live on state television.

Israel has threatened military action against Iran unless it abandons nuclear activities which the West suspects are intended to develop nuclear weapons, allegations Tehran denies.

Khamenei also took to his official Twitter account to express his thoughts on Israel's threats to Iran:

#Iran's Leader: #Israel's leaders often threaten #Iran, but they know if they commit it, we will destroy Tel Aviv and Haifa into ashes.

— khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) March 21, 2013

He also posted on his Twitter account:

Ayatollah #Khamenei: The #Zionist enemy is nothing in front of the Iranian nation. Read the full story here.

PM Netanyahu: Mistake to rely on intelligence agencies knowing when Iran makes bomb.

PM Netanyahu: Mistake to rely on intelligence agencies knowing when Iran makes bomb.(IMRA).From PM Netanyahu's Speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York
"...Some who claim that even if Iran completes the enrichment process, even if it crosses that red line that I just drew, our intelligence agencies will know when and where Iran will make the fuse, assemble the bomb, and prepare the warhead.
Look, no one appreciates our intelligence agencies more than the Prime Minister of Israel. All these leading intelligence agencies are superb, including ours. They've foiled many attacks. They've saved many lives. But they are not foolproof.
For over two years, our intelligence agencies didn't know that Iran was building a huge nuclear enrichment plant under a mountain. 
Do we want to risk the security of the world on the assumption that we would find in time a small workshop in a country half the size of Europe?Hmmmm......."Pour les vaincre, messieurs, il nous faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, et toujours de l'audace et la Patrie sera sauvée!" ~ Danton. Read the full story here.