For some reason, I missed this post.
I'm not defending USA per se. I'm defending people who live there.
Biblical morality is only good when you apply double (or even triple) standards over the same things. Bible has too much ambiguities and mutually contradictory statements to be a good guidebook on morality.
Say that again - state morality? What's that? Besides, a state cannot exist if it respects every and all of its citizens. In order to function normally state now and then has to step on a few necks. Even a 'perfect state' from Utopia would have to do that - to do little evils for a greater good. What can be said about normal states? Your libertarian views can only function normally in anarchism but then again you wouldn't like that very much.
Epistle to the Romans (Paul), Chapter 13
Obedience in Authority.
1 Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God.
2 Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves.
3 For rulers are not a cause of fear to good conduct, but to evil. Do you wish to have no fear of authority? Then do what is good and you will receive approval from it,
4 for it is a servant of God for your good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword without purpose; it is the servant of God to inflict wrath on the evildoer.
5 Therefore, it is necessary to be subject not only because of the wrath but also because of conscience.
6 This is why you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
7 Pay to all their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, toll to whom toll is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Please, do not bring Christianity to this. I will always prove you are wrong with the quotes from Bible
1. See above
2. It was not the state. It was people who did that.
You may not believe it, but normal people never know when their intelligence succeeded. They know only its failures. Technically this helps to prevent many acts of terrorism (among other things, of course)
To cut it short - a modern day state simply cannot exist if it does not spy on its own people. Like it or not. Every state does it and every state will.