Spying is just a fact of life amid the commerce of states, writes Amin Howeidi* In the late 1960s, after Egyptian spooks won one of their battles, they were dubbed the "dawn visitors" by way of derision. Now we call them "spy hunters", in acknowledgement of their valuable work. Counter- espionage is meticulous and exact. You need to collect all the evidence and build a watertight case. It is, however, worrying that in the two recent cases of espionage, Egyptians were implicated. This fact must give us food for thought. Why would a citizen sell his country so cheaply? This is something that calls for the attention of experts and officials. Fortresses, let's not forget, are only conquered from within. I've heard many wondering: how can Israel engage in espionage against us despite the existing agreements? The question is legitimate and the answer is clear. Israel doesn't recognise agreements or international law. Israel has committed and will commit worse things than espionage. Furthermore, all countries engage in such activities. International relations are not based on morality, but on force and intrigue. All countries collect information about foe and friend, and this doesn't prevent them from signing agreements or making peace. And just as armies train in times of peace, intelligence agencies stay busy in times of peace and war. After all, no one knows how long friends will remain friends. International relations are based on interests, and the latter shift all the time. So we have to remain ahead of the game. Peace offers more opportunity for spies, for they can move around and recruit more freely. Spies often pose as tourists or businessmen, and they have full access to visiting delegations, students on exchange programmes, and people from all walks of life. Israel spies on America, its closest ally. Congressional files are full of Israeli acts of espionage, especially with regards to arms transfers, foreign aid, and relations with Arab countries. You may recall the case of Pollard, the US navy intelligence operative who provided Israel with classified material endangering US national security. Interestingly, his case didn't diminish US support for Israel. Technology can give spooks an edge, but even technology has a human element. So although it is important to use technology in espionage, the most important part is analysis. Information is not hard to get, as most of it comes from open sources, including the media. But with so much disinformation going around, the hardest part is to know what's on other people's minds. Following the 1973 War, an Israeli committee of enquiry asked intelligence chief Eli Zeira to explain why Israel was so caught off guard. Zeira said that he had all the right information, but that analysts failed to interpret it in the right way. He may have been trying to shift the blame, but basically he said a truth. So let's not be discouraged by the recent cases of espionage, for these are likely to continue, and we have the means to deflect them. Espionage is a never-ending game. * The writer is former defence minister and chief of General Intelligence.
