NBC晚间新闻 奥巴马承诺限制国家安全局的管辖范围（在线收听）

Obama promises to limit NSA’s extraordinary reach

奥巴马承诺限制国家安全局的管辖范围

The White House, under fire from closest allies, is taking a closer look at the National Security Agency’s vast data collection. NBC’s Andrea Mitchell reports.

在最亲密盟友的炮轰下，白宫正在审视国家安全局的大量数据收集。NBC的Andrea Mitchell报道。

Good evening. Among industrialized nations, spying is considered something everybody does but nobody likes to talk about. The problem for the US right now is everybody is talking about it and each day seems to bring a new allegation concerning the extent to which the US has spied on other nations, especially our allies and friends. It's all coming from one man, Edward Snowden and the secrets he made off before he left as a US intelligence analyst. So right now the White House is scrambling to soothe feelings while fielding questions about how much the president knew. We begin in Washington tonight with NBC's Andrea Mitchell. Andrea, good evening.

reporter: Good evening, Brian. The White House is under fire from its closest allies. So for the first time now the president is promisinging to limit the NSA's extraordinary reach saying what they are able to do doesn't necessarily mean what they should be doing. That likely means not spying on foreign leaders who happen to be good friends and allies. Across Europe, an uproar today. In Madrid the US ambassador to Spain James Castello under siege. Called on the carpet to explain reports that the NSA was vacuuming up telephone data, tracking 60 million calls in Spain in less than a month, according to El Mundo. Germany today called for an investigation into NSA's tapping of its leader Angela Merkel's personal cell phone. The interior minister said the chancellor was spied on which violates German law. He threatened to expel any US diplomats involved. European parliament members from Germany and Spain descended on Washington demanding answers from intelligence committees and threatening sanctions.

It is not acceptable for example that spee naj on chancellor Merkel and others.

We are asking ourselves if now the u.s. or the nsa is considering merkel a terrorist.

reporter: The White House says the president didn't know Merkel's phone was targeted. Is that possible? The diplomatic disaster all based on leaks from Edward Snowden. I asked Snowden's intermediary speaking to us from Rio. Is it credible he would not know?

Unfortunately it is credible. Because the NSA has become a rogue agency that really goes off on its own to do whatever it wants. I'm not sure which is scarier, that the president did know and approved it and is now lying about it or that he didn't know and the NSA just took it upon itself to the do that without even the commander in chief being aware.

reporter: Does everyone do it? Experts say China and Russia are notorious for spying. So are close allies like France mostly for industrial the espionage and Israel for cyber war. But experts say no one come close to the NSA's vast data collection. Despite the risks, president Obama is the first US president to use a Blackberry, overruling objections from the CIA and NSA.

Knowing that other countries would also be interested in listening to his phone calls. Because of that he ended up with one of the most secure Blackberrys on earth.

reporter: And he won't give it up.

Is the president still using his blackberry?

I have no change to announce in terms of the president's communications.

reporter: He loves the Blackberry. Tonight Diane Finestein ordered a total review of all intelligence programs, the most sweeping since 9/11 saying she opposes spying on allied leaders and was also kept in the dark about Merkel. Brian?

Andrea Mitchell starting us off from our DC Newsroom tonight, Andrea, thanks.