That lesson should be recalled in the context of recent public disclosures about worldwide monitoring activities by the National Security Agency (NSA). The continuing exposure of NSA programs, which apparently has included surveillance of the wireless telecommunications of allied leaders like Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, has proven to be a genuine problem for America’s intelligence community and the Obama Administration. The protests from top leaders of allied governments have become front-page news across the globe. Daily, new accusations are reported, thanks to the seemingly unlimited supply of classified material possessed by former NSA analyst and contractor Edward Snowden. Snowden is making sure that no day goes by without a new story about apparent NSA excesses, or the outraged debate that follows.

The reality, however, is a bit more nuanced than the headlines would have us believe.

In fact, the only break with international norms with the present NSA monitoring program is that they got caught. And not getting caught is the first and biggest rule of intelligence gathering.

We often hear politicians talk about “intelligence failures” following a surprise attack like those that took place at Pearl Harbor or on 9/11. Individuals within the intelligence community are then grilled, additional layers of management installed, with none of the underlying reasons for the so-called “intelligence failure” dealt with. And in the case of the present-day troubles NSA is experiencing, the only real failure appears to have been one of personnel selection and clearance. In fact, the only break with international norms with the present NSA monitoring program is that they got caught. And not getting caught is the first and biggest rule of intelligence gathering. At the same time, if Chancellor Merkel and the rest of her European colleagues thought they were not the targets of American surveillance efforts, then they were sadly ignorant and optimistic.

Let’s make this clear. The United States, out of necessity, spies on everyone. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is said to have once stated, “America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.” Never, in modern history, has that statement been truer than in the present context. One need only remember back in the 1980s, when the Israelis recruited a mole within the Office of Naval Intelligence, Jonathan Pollard, who supplied them with a huge “take” of classified documents and other information. Yet, few would question that the United States and Israel have generally enjoyed a “special” relationship, which few other nations enjoy. And they still probably spy on us, and we likely spy on them. It is a situation unlikely to change at any time in the near term. Our 21^st century world is a very dangerous place, and constant vigilance in every corner of the globe is the price of security and stability.

So what should American leaders like President Obama and his “inner circle” do about the present NSA crisis? Well, in a word: nothing.

So what should American leaders like President Obama and his “inner circle” do about the present NSA crisis? Well, in a word: nothing. The stream of leaks from Snowden is going to continue. Also, throwing away our present lead in communications surveillance worldwide would be to commit public suicide in a world that just gets more dangerous every day. The reality is, that if the German intelligence services could monitor the mobile phones of every senior U.S. administration, intelligence, or military leader, they would. In fact, every nation would, because to not do so would be reckless and irresponsible. No intelligence is more valuable to any nation than situational awareness of the important issues that face it. So to expect the United States to change its intelligence policy regarding monitoring of anyone’s communications, including our allies, is simply unrealistic. As for Chancellor Merkel and her  “outraged” counterparts, they need to be quiet and acknowledge the fact that this is how nations do business.

One need not look at a calendar to know that we are generations away from the utopian social ideas of science fiction visionaries like Gene Roddenberry. And even in Roddenberry’s 23rd century, greed, avarice, and battles for power, resources and territory were far from eliminated. The simple reality is that spying is older than the Bible, and unlikely to disappear should human beings roam the galaxy far in the future. It would be dangerously ignorant and blatantly irresponsible not to keep a wary eye on both friends and enemies across the globe. Any other action, by any American government, whatever their party, would be criminally negligent. And besides, it’s not like our best friends will not be spying on us…