NSA Monitored Phones of 35 Foreign Leaders

The U.S. National Security Agency monitored the phone calls of 35 foreign leaders, according to a report on a leaked memo published Thursday by the Guardian.

The document, leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, encourages officials with contacts in other government departments, like the White House, State Department and Pentagon, to seek out “rolodexes”  that include “foreign political or military leaders.” According to the document, which dates to October of 2006, more than 200 telephone numbers were handed over, including those of 35 unnamed “world leaders.” The phone numbers were then allegedly “tasked” for monitoring  by the NSA. According to the memo “little reportable intelligence” was gathered in the operation and the numbers were not used for “sensitive discussions.”