. >> reporter: snowdon had a high level security clears with his employer. he disappeared with classified information that has led to embarrassing friction with u.s. allies. questions surround a country called u.s. investigative services that did the background check on snowdon. >> the nation's capitol under siege. >> reporter: in september aaron alexis shot and killed 12 people at the navy yard in washington, d.c. a civilian contractor to the navy he had been discharged after multiple misconduct i wants. they had done his background check as well. the world of government contracting is full of mutual need and cooperation. but after years of outsourcing of federal functions, scrutiny of private sector firms has ignited questions as to where taxpayer money is going and what is getting done. since the attacks of septembe september 11, 2001, technicians made up of hundreds of thousands of contractors, the obama administration requested $48 billion in the budget for granted to national intelligence program. as much as 70% of that request will go towards private

once again at the center of a wiretapping supervisor is former nsa contractor edward snowdon. but this is not the first time that snowdon has leaked classified information about tapping ally communications. just la month brazil's president postponed a state visit to the u.s. over revelations that the nsa has spied on her. but house committee chairman mike rogers said our european allies should be thankful for keeping them secure from outside threats. >> if th their citizens knew what it was about they would be popping the shame cork. it keeps the french safe, and it keeps our allies safe. >> reporter: the question is how will this play out to allies across the atlantic and around the world. >> joining us to discuss nsa spying and u.s. diplomat is are p.j. crowley former isn't secretary of state now professor of the george washington university school of public affairs. and correspondent for the wall street journey. how shocking are these revelations. we'll start with angela merkel, head of state. >> it's different from eavesdropping on the citizens of the nation because it's a

how do we know what we see from eric snowdon today is really from eric snowdon.yes, it is a damage and it's inflicting our ability to get other things done. john kerry wants to go to a meeting with a foreign minister and he wants to work on syria or the israeli-palestinian conflict, and he wants to move some other issue forward, and this will be a distraction, and people will be in a ma bad mood about it. >> if you remember part of a damage control team, i don't know what you would name t but if you were part of a team, how would you approach it? >> first off, be honest about what we've done in priority. secondly, set rules that we're prepared to live with that will satisfy our allies going forward. and then thirdly, make the point in public that this is who we are as countries. we are on the same team. the u.s. germany, france, u.k. share the same values, same interests in the world. let's not get distract and focused on each other when the real problems in the world are syria killing it's own people or iran building a bomb. >> thank you, former ambassador to n.

that was the initial concern brought by snowdon disclosures. internationally there are less constraints on hou how our intelligence teams work. but as technology develops and expands, and the capacity for intelligence gathering becomes greater we have to make sure that we do things in the right way and reflect our values. >> reform efforts in congress includes the addition of a privacy advocate it to the fisa court. this would dress civil liberties concerns held by many americans since they learned of the massive number of phone records in america's spy agency. when we come back we'll talk about what change might mean here and abroad and potential changes to u.s. civil liberties. we'll be right back. >> the shooting happened about 30 minutes ago. >> companies... >> the remains of the fire are still everywhere here. >> the powers that be at home and around the world... >> not only do they not get compensation but you don't even have to explain why? >> well thats exactly what i said. >> we question authority. >> so you said we could get access...

that was the initial concern brought by snowdon disclosures. internationally there are less constraints on hou how our intelligence teams work. but as technology develops and expands, and the capacity for intelligence gathering becomes greater we have to make sure that we do things in the right way and reflect our values. >> reform efforts in congress includes the addition of a privacy advocate it to the fisa court. this would dress civil liberties concerns held by many americans since they learned of the massive number of phone records in america's spy agency. when we come back we'll talk about what change might mean here and abroad and potential >> a senator under investigation and only al jazeera america is there. uncovering the corruption opening the files... >> are you going to resign if your're indicted? >> breaking the story real reporting, this is what we do... al jazeera america (vo) al jazeera america we understand that every news story begins and ends with people. >> the efforts are focused on rescuing stranded residents. (vo) we pur

. >> the first pictures of former nsa contractor eric snowdon has been released. this since he found asylum in russia. snowdon said that surveillance programs are a threat to democracy. >> people all over the world are realizing these programs don't make us more safe. they hurt our country. they limit our ability to speak and live and be creative, have relationships associated with freedom. >> he's responsible for leaking u.s. government spying programs. >>> gathering to protest genetically engineered food. the rallies are expected in 400 cities around the world. we're live from a protest in los angeles. stephanie, i can see people are starting to gather behind you. tell me what is happening. >> reporter: this is all part of world food day. they're going to march here in the district a few miles away to downtown, and they really want to raise awareness about genetically modified food. these folks are passionate about this, and we talked to folks about why it was important for them to come here. we found a people here. joining is now is justina, she's only 14. you

the european parliament has an inquiry under way since the edward snowdon revelation. they're here, once again, receiving a great deal of notice. they'll have lots of meetings planned with white house officials, intelligence officials, think tanks and civil society. they're trying to figure out and understand the extent of the surveillance. it's five past 11:00 and they have just finished their meeting with representative mike rogers on capitol hill, head of house committee. mike rogers over the weekend said europe should be grateful for all of this surveillance. we're keeping europe safe, he suggested. so we do wonder what they will be achieving on capitol hill. there is this american push back after all frankly the u.s. consider anyone they want as long as they're constitutionally protected, even if you are constitutionally protected in the u.s. there are questions about that as well, aren't there. >> thank you very much. and we should point out president obama is set to speak within the next hour. he's going to be making remarks of the installation of the new fbi di

that was the initial concern brought by snowdon disclosures. internationally there are less constraints on hou how our intelligence teams work. but as technology develops and expands, and the capacity for intelligence gathering becomes greater we have to make sure that we do things in the right way and reflect our values. >> reform efforts in congress includes the addition of a privacy advocate it to the fisa court. this would dress civil liberties concerns held by many americans since they learned of the massive number of phone records in america's spy agency. when we come back we'll talk about what change might mean here and abroad and potential [[voiceover]] every day, events sweep across our country. and with them, a storm of views. how can you fully understand the impact unless you've heard angles you hadn't considered? antonio mora brings you smart conversation that challenges the status quo with unexpected opinions and a fresh outlook. including yours. >> a senator under investigation and only al jazeera america is there. uncovering the

snowdon spoke out against the secret american electronic surveillance programs he helped to expose. >> people all over the world are realizing these programs do not make us more safe. they hurt country. they limit our ability to think, live, be creative, have relationships associated with freedom. >> reporter: now back to doha. >> now the african union has called on the international criminal court to stop prosecuting its heads of state. meeting in ethiopia agree that the kenyan president should not attend his up coming trial in the hague. they asked to defer the trial of the kenyan president saying that it's flawed. >> no serving e.u. heads of state or government or anyone acting or entitled to act in such capacity shall be required tto appear in front of any international court during his government. >> trying to stop fighters from advancing into a syrian city, activists are reporting government shelling in downtown damascus. >>> well, the influx of syrians fleeing the war is straining the neighboring country of lebanon. >> reporter: the united nations is overwhelmed by the unfoldin

snowdon. >> officials say the united states is only gathering intelligence of the type gathered by all nations. there was another european leader david cameron, the prime minister of the united kingdom. >> there are lots of people who want to do us harm, they want to blow up our families, maim people in our countries. it is not a pleasant fact but it is the truth. that is the threat that we face. we have a choice. do we maintain properly funded, properly governed intelligence levels to get ahead of them and stop them or do we stop doing that. >> reporter: american officials say they're reviewing the procedures in the wake of all the scandal, and all of the uproar that has taken case over the course of the last several months. it has really been heightened this week. >> i'm curious as to where this--where do you think this goes from here? >> you know, there is a school of thought, and you hear this from many of the experts that this is really business as usual, and you heard jen ps aki warn of more revelations to come. but it's quite possible that there could be other revelations coming

they've been very tight-lipped among them, and they expect there could be more coming from the snowdoneaks. here is jen sak glike psaki. >> we'll factor those things in wit,we fully expect, and this is another allegation, and more allegation also surface given the count of classified information leaked by mr. snowden. >> there is a certain business as usual aspect are saying. jay carney of the white house saying the u.s. gathers foreign intelligence, gathered by all nations, and again a spokeswoman here said they will speak engaged by rally with anyone who wants to talk with them and they're reviewing procedures when it comes to the communication of these world leaders. >> mike viqueira for us at the white house. thank you. the issue of illegal migrants, well, where shall we go? all right, the issue of illegal migrants was over shadowed by u.s. spying allegations at the e.u. summit. leaders there decided to put off any major action that deals with the flood of illegal migrants from africa to europe until disease. meanwhile the italian navy said it rescued 700 migrants at sea today. the

neighbors and us if they have the resources comment has been thrown out into the spotlight because of the snowdonwe are playing their public in a way. i think it is a complete mistake of his white house turned around and says we are drafting laws and regulations restrict this simply because they are playing politics. connell: let me ask you about current law. is anything being done that you found about illegally as far as you know? >> no. connell: the second part of it that i think is interesting is to say you are in a hypothetical situation spying on angela merkel, because that is the name coming up, what are we hoping to get out of that, what are we hoping to find? you have a scenario to paint this is why we need to do something? >> that is really going in the right direction because my concern isn't that they are doing it because i know what the french are up to, what the spanish, everybody is out there spying on their friends and neighbors. i would like to think we're doing it for operationally sound reasons rather than just because we have that capability. i never look at this from that poin