[fuoqi]

>The PR disaster that would ensue if the US were caught doing this

Ha-ha, let's take a look how much of "PR disaster" was direct spying on European "allied" leaders. Europe simply swallowed it without much trouble. With NS/NS2 we have a much better field for deniability. Simply say that any evidence is a Russian conspiracy or false flag.

[eloisius]

Spying between allies is not uncommon and is even tacitly allowed because it increases trust between partners.

[fuoqi]

Sure, I am confident the US will react in the same way to Germany or France intelligence services tapping their president.