Obama expresses regret to Japan's Abe for spying charges

TOKYO (AP) — President Barack Obama has called Japan's leader to express regret over recent WikiLeaks allegations that the U.S. had spied on senior Japanese officials.

Obama told Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he thought the trouble the revelations caused Abe and his government was regrettable, a Japanese government spokesman told reporters.

The 40-minute call took place Wednesday morning Japan time.

Japanese officials faced questioning from the media and in parliament after WikiLeaks posted online what appeared to be five U.S. National Security Agency reports on Japanese positions on international trade and climate change. They date from 2007 to 2009. WikiLeaks also posted what it says was an NSA list of 35 Japanese targets for telephone intercepts.

Abe told Obama that the allegations could undermine trust between the countries, and reiterated his request for an investigation of the matter.

The comments from both sides seemed to echo the exchange between Abe and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in a similar call earlier this month.

The two leaders also discussed the global economic turmoil, North Korea and climate change.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-08-26

The Ap seems to have bowed down and decided that Wikileaks are now "allegations". Allegations? They are copies of memos from inside the US government.

They are proof, not allegations.

What idiots.

"... express regret over recent WikiLeaks allegations ​..."

Surely he should have expressed regret that the US had spied on senior Japanese officials, and not just the accusations.

Once again, the U.S. is caught spying on an ally. "Gee, sorry that we got caught"!

The Ap seems to have bowed down and decided that Wikileaks are now "allegations". Allegations? They are copies of memos from inside the US government.

They are proof, not allegations.

What idiots.

You got to love Wiki leaks when it make the planets so called most important person grovel. Go Wiki Leaks go. Its about time we got true truth not this manufactured canned stuff the politicians feed us to keep us docile.

Once again, the U.S. is caught spying on an ally. "Gee, sorry that we got caught"!

Allies politicians have no allies or friends. They do not trust each other that is why the whole world is in such a mess today. Its the old adage "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer" close as in watching them closer.