If the US and Europe pretend, as we should, to be shining lighthouses for the cause of freedom and democracy, then for the sake of congruence and principle we should hold ourselves to higher standards than more oppressive regimes.

As for the accusation of "wild" exaggeration; granted, it's an exaggeration, and I should probably stop rabble-rousing someday. Still, nationalistic prejudice? Check. Paranoiac delusions of espionage/propaganda? Check. Lack of any reasonable oversight such as, you know, asking NASA by the phone? Check. Harassment of foreign nationals? Check. If anything is lacking, is scale.