[NYTimes] The details of the latest case were murky. The news media reports suggested that the man, a midlevel employee of the Federal Intelligence Service, was originally arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia. The Kremlin has markedly stepped up recruitment of German informants since the uprisings in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions aimed at Russia's economy.But according to the news reports and the account of the American official, the man told his interrogators he had been working for the United States for some time.
But in conversations with German officials over the past year, the Obama administration has made it clear that its
Not gonna' spy on you no more
commitment extends only to Ms. Merkel herself, and not other German officials. That was one of many sources of tension as the two countries, which traditionally share intelligence on terrorism suspects and nuclear proliferation, struggled and failed to reach a new accord.
| Why is anyone surprised? Of course intel agencies spy on other countries, friend and foe alike. The crime isn't spying, the crime is getting caught. |