ST Alpha - "1) You spy on your allies to know when they're not your allies. 2) The cost of what you miss if you don't spy exceeds what you gain when you do." (Reading a Post)

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In response to "I guess we'll never know what we gained from spying on our allies, but I can't imagine it's significant. -- nm" by Inigo

1) You spy on your allies to know when they're not your allies. 2) The cost of what you miss if you don't spy exceeds what you gain when you do.

Posted by Max Oct 30 '13, 11:11

It's kind of the schroedinger's cat rule of espionage.

Responses:

I think America already has a good idea of which allies are its allies and which are not -- nm - Roger More Oct 30, 11:17 11
- *boom* - Pearl Harbor Oct 30, 11:25 9
  - Japan wasn't an ally, it was a strategic threat - like Russia and China are today. -- nm - Roger More Oct 30, 11:29 1
    - and Germany, France, Italy and Spain are too it looks like - DaneDukeNuuk Oct 30, 11:31
  - Japan was one of the closest allies of the US in june 1941? -- nm - DaneDukeNuuk Oct 30, 11:26 6
    - No, but weren't we friendly before we weren't? The key point is you don't wait to find out that your friends have betrayed you. -- nm - Max Oct 30, 11:35 5
      - And more seriously, not really. In the 1860s, the US sent warships to Japan to force them to open trade. - Roger More Oct 30, 11:46
      - "I'll take Jap anus relations for $400, Trebek!" -- nm - Sean Connery si Oct 30, 11:39
      - so an surprise attack from Canada or Belgium is likely yes? - DaneDukeNuuk Oct 30, 11:38 2
        
        Yes, exactly, an attack from Canada is likely. And when people betray you they always put it on the agenda for discussion. -- nm - Max Oct 30, 11:44 1
        
        NATO is an integrated millitary allience and you need spies to prevent from attack fro member nations there? - DaneDukeNuuk Oct 30, 11:50
- aparently the US has no allies at all everyone is spyed on -- nm - DaneDukeNuuk Oct 30, 11:21
The game is going to happen whether you actively participate or not. I'd rather we were the best at it instead of a bystander. - TWuG Oct 30, 11:16 4
- you think so based on what? - DaneDukeNuuk Oct 30, 11:20 3
  - What difference does it make how it's organized? Or the number of people involved? - TWuG Oct 30, 11:30 2
    - ohh yes the large part of he internet is based of technoly from France i know - DaneDukeNuuk Oct 30, 11:36 1
      - We're better at it and I'm thankful we are. -- nm - TWuG Oct 30, 11:46
the US has agreements with allies about what to spy on and what not - DaneDukeNuuk Oct 30, 11:15 2
- pff, the law. -- nm - Pee Wee Herman Oct 30, 11:16 1
  - i know it's not really leagal to kidnap and enprison citizens of other nations but it happens even without an apology afterwards -- nm - DaneDukeNuuk Oct 30, 11:30
Since so much of political and economic negotiations is like a game of poker, its easier if you can peek at their cards -- nm - zeitgeist Oct 30, 11:13

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1) You spy on your allies to know when they're not your allies. 2) The cost of what you miss if you don't spy exceeds what you gain when you do.

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