Oftenposten: Germany, U.S. plan secret spy program

WikiLeaks documents published by Norwegian newspaper Oftenposten say that Germany and the U.S. are engaged in a $270 million satellite spying program that is causing friction in the European Union.

Citing diplomatic cables sent from the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, the newspaper said Monday that the project was presented as a commercial enterprise but is actually run by the German intelligence service. Aftenposten cites cables revealing that the HiROS venture — a network of highly precise satellites — has been vehemently opposed by France and could weaken the EU’s military satellite cooperation. According to the cables sent in 2009 and last year, the satellites would be in place by 2013.