RUSSIAN BUGGING DEVICE IS REMINDER THAT NATIONAL SECRETS ARE BACKBONE OF DIPLOMACY

When a Russian bugging device was recently discovered inside the State Department in Washington, it probably came as a surprise to many Americans who tend to forget that espionage continues when there is no real war or Cold War going on.

Spying is the backbone of diplomacy, even if it's called intelligence gathering or policy analysis or some other euphemism.

Secretary of State Albright assured us that the Russians didn't get any sensitive information. After all, the bug was placed in a conference room used by the Bureau of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

Doesn't sound like James Bond would be terribly interested.

But it's a reminer that we can't ever let down our guard.