It's illegal and we are supposed to do it. That is the core duality of spying. First, we understand and except that it's illegal and if our spys are caught the

It's illegal and we are supposed to do it. That is the core duality of spying. First, we understand and except that it's illegal and if our spys are caught they will be put in jail, and second we understand that we're going to do it anyway. In contrast, the current debate over domestic wiretapping is that the government is trying to ignore the first part of that equation. They are trying to legitimize an act which at times might be necessary but should always be illegal, and punishable. It is far too simplistic a world view to think that just because something is illegal you shouldn't do it, or that just because something is necessary you shouldn't be punished for doing it.