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Asia, explained.
Spying on Kristiani Herawati: A loss of judgementSpying on Kristiani Herawati: A loss of judgement
About the author
Stephen Grenville
Dr Grenville is a Nonresident Fellow at the Lowy Institute.
The Weekend Australian carried a ‘well-sourced’ article defending our listening in on Kristiani Herawati, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's wife. Quoting the usual ‘well-connected insider who asked not to be named’, it argues that she was a legitimate target because she was an important adviser to the president, perhaps his most important adviser.
To put this forward as if it justifies the action just demonstrates that the Canberra intelligence community has lost its judgement. How offensive would SBY and his wife find this action? Let’s ask ourselves how John Howard would have felt if someone (say the Americans) had bugged Janette’s phone, with the same justification, and this had leaked.
Did no one in Canberra think this was overstepping the line? It’s time for a serious examination of our intelligence services.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Stephen Grenville
