Alex’s recent blog post about UBS reminded me of a story I read in today’s New York Times about an Israeli spy living in Lebanon. Despite the fact that he was recruited in 1983 by the Israeli government and had been actively spying since then, according to the article, the red flag that raised suspicions of those around him was that he had begun to spend lavishly, including building a three-story terra cotta home.
I do not subscribe to the viewpoint that espionage is morally wrong. But I would argue that, if one devotes his life to the service of a government and its political aims, pursuing creature comforts in such an incongruous way as to compromise the nature of one’s activities is worse than useless. Think about the high points of espionage in world history — cracking the Nazi code, Enigma, at Bletchley Park during World War II is the prime example. Scientists, mathematicians, chess players, and even crossword puzzle aficionados were brought to Bletchley, then a run-down mansion on the verge of demolition, under the pretext of a shooting party. Those individuals called no attention to themselves; in fact, they denied themselves contact with friends and family, as well as any luxuries, in the service of this one noble aim. Prominent scholars of espionage have argued that cracking that code was the key advantage that the Allies had that turned the tide of the war. Could they have done it if even the local community — let alone the country — was cognizant of their project? Assuredly not.
This Israeli spy is presumably the exception, rather than the rule, when it comes to Israeli — or, for that matter, any — spies. But in an age where espionage is developing new and important capacities in curbing the tide of international terrorism, this story screams ludicrousness. Maybe we can’t expect James Bond back in action, but let’s hope intelligence recruits use a bit more discretion the next time around.