Mission impossible: spying for liars

Why bother to be loyal? Who cares? The government is interested only in itself, and the public only in low interest rates. But I have access to valuable secrets: a commodity convertible into cash, if not other rewards in kind. Oh, and the money can be paid into a foreign trust account if I wish.

At a time like this, some justify treachery as helping their family out, even regarding it as honourable. In such ways are the endeavours of the rest in the intelligence community - people with sophisticated skills and experience - betrayed. The act of a handful of traitors negates the efforts of the best minds in our system.

Yes, Mr Howard, you should think of these things when you rest your head on your pillow at night.

Ultimately, of course, history will hand down its final report: unclassified and available for all to read. The shelf life of all lies, as with secrets, finally runs out.