IT’S LIKE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ARE ABOUT HYPOCRISY: Spying for Me, But Not for Thee:

While Germany was publicly fuming about the revelation in 2013 that the NSA was listening in on Angela Merkel’s cell phone conversations, it was secretly tapping those of top-level U.S. and U.K. diplomats. . . .

t the time of the 2013 NSA scandal, Merkel was adamant that “spying on friends is not acceptable” and was said to be “livid.” Her spokesman pulled no punches. . . . And the rest of the German commentariat erupted in a furor that lasted for months and seriously affected transatlantic relations. Meanwhile, in the same year (though the timing is unclear from initial reports), the BND was quietly asked to wind down the surveillance of Ashton—but won’t comment on the rest of the program.

There’s definitely a chuckle to be had here—perhaps with a side of schadenfreude aimed at whoever has to address these revelations on behalf of the Chancellor. But its a dark world out there—for which reason, spying, even on allies, is the order of things. Angela Merkel seems to understand that, it turns out. Perhaps she would be good enough to explain it to her public.

She already has a lot of things to explain to her public.