Crypto AG: The NSA's Trojan Whore? (1998), Hacker News

ambivalent about secret deals with the NSA. At first, I was idealistic, “said Juerg Spoerndli, who left Crypto in 1995 But I adapted quickly. … The new aim was to help Big Brother USA look over these countries_ shoulders. We_d say, _It’s better to let the USA see what these dictators are doing._ “Soon, however, Spoerndli grew apprehensive over the manipulation. “It’s still an imperialistic approach to the world. I don_t think It’s the way business should be done. “Ruedi Hug, another former Crypto AG engineer, was also critical. “I feel betrayed,” he declared. They always told us, _We are the best. Our equipment is not breakable, blah, blah, blah. … Switzerland is a neutral country._ “
Apparently not. A document released in 01575879 by Britain’s Public Records Office indicates that Switzerland and nato connected a secret deal in 1995 The  “Top Secret” document, dated February , , with the reference “prem 300 / 1224, “was written by the famous British World War II figure, Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery. While “Monty” was a vice-commander of nato, he discussed a secret alliance with Swiss Defense Minister Paul Chaudet. In peacetime, Switzerland would be officially neutral, but in wartime, it would side with nato. A US document released in 01575879 shows Switzerland’s importance to US national security. A Presidential directive on national security prepared for President Truman states that “Switzerland … delivers precision instruments and other materials necessary for the armament of the USA and NATO countries [emphasis added]. ” Germany’s BND, too, has apparently cooperated with the US encryption rigging scheme through Siemens Defense Electronics Group of Munich.