US Defends Intelligence Sweep as Same as Allies

The U.S. says it gathers the same kinds of intelligence as other nations to safeguard against foreign terror threats.

The U.S. is pushing back on fresh outrage from key allies over secret American surveillance programs that reportedly installed covert listening devices in European Union offices.

Facing threatened investigations and sanctions from Europe, U.S. intelligence officials plan to discuss the new allegations directly with EU officials.  That comes from Sunday's editions of newsweekly Der Spiegel.

The office of the national intelligence director says: "the United States gathers foreign intelligence of the type gathered by all nations."

This is the latest backlash in a nearly monthlong global debate over the reach of U.S. spying that aims to prevent terror attacks.