What you're describing is illegal under the conditions you've outlined. There is no reasonable suspicion or ethical justification for bugging Angela Merkel's ph

What you're describing is illegal under the conditions you've outlined. There is no reasonable suspicion or ethical justification for bugging Angela Merkel's phone -- comparing it to regular detective work is ridiculous. It's just one part of the unethical anarchy at the heart of the supposed international "order", where most countries are just trying to get ahead of the other guys -- but the US is the most pompous in pretending its actions are uniquely principled and those of others are uniquely nefarious. It's ironic on a scale not seen before in all human history. Free countries have the greatest need to properly "educate" the population that it's all just prudent and good, actually -- and the US has done an excellent job at that.