US President Barack Obama's NSA reform plans, announced on Friday and aimed at reassuring its allies and domestic citizens, are seen by analysts as having no major impact on US spying. Ironically, Obama was not apologetic, but rather proud of the moral image of the US when delivering a symbolic, overdue response to global outrage following the Edward Snowden scandal.

"We will not apologize simply because our services may be more effective," Obama said during his Friday speech. And he did not forget to disparage China and Russia while declaring that the US would continue spying on foreign governments. Apparently, according to Obama, the US still holds the moral crown despite the Snowden disaster. After all, "no one expects China to have an open debate about their surveillance programs, or Russia to take the privacy concerns of citizens into account."

Although Obama in his Friday speech avoided mentioning Snowden, the US "traitor" hailed as a hero by civil liberty groups worldwide, it is believed that the modest reform measures would not have come out without Snowden's leaks. The whole reform package is more like a "vindication" of the whistle-blower.

The US remains the controller of the Internet, and it enjoys an overwhelming intelligence advantage. Since the September 11 attacks, the NSA has been swelling with recruits and tasks pouring in.

There are serious concerns over the corpulence of Washington's intelligence industry, which would ultimately harm civil rights and national security.

Unfortunately, Washington has shown no significant attitude shift in the seven months since the Snowden scandal. Instead, it comes up with more excuses to defend its spying practices. Obama has made it clear that the powerful, unique capabilities of US intelligence services mean "a special obligation," and that the US will continue to find out the intentions of other countries.

It is unknown to what extent the US-German relationship can be repaired, after Obama stated the US would scale back spying on leaders of foreign governments, especially its allies.

Nonetheless, its damaged moral image will hardly be restored by the reform package, and it will also prove very difficult to reestablish trust between the US public and its federal government.

It seems that the US is bringing the law of the jungle to an era when the Internet is reshaping and redefining social and political boundaries. Tension is mounting as Washington is making this dangerous choice, and it is uncertain where it will lead this world. But at least one thing is for sure: The US no longer takes the moral high ground when it spears other countries with "freedom and democracy."