By Arun Kumar

Washington, June 16 (IANS) US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates made light of Pakistan's arrest of five Pakistan CIA informers who helped in the US raid on Osama bin Laden's hideout saying in the real world governments lie to each other and allies too spy.

"First of all, I would say, based on 27 years in CIA and four-and-a-half years in this job, most governments lie to each other," said Gates, who started his professional career in America's spy agency, Central Intelligence Agency, prompting laughter.

"That's the way business gets done," he said in response to a question from Democrat Senator Patrick, at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing Wednesday

"How long do we support governments that lie to us? When do we say, 'Enough is enough'?" Leahy had asked.

"They arrested people who helped us get him," he said referring to the arrest of five Pakistani CIA informers, who fed it information before the raid on the bin laden hideout.

"Do they also arrest the people that help us," Leahy wondered.

"Sometimes," responded Gates.

Leahy: "When they say they're allies?"

Gates: "Sometimes."

Leahy: "Not often."

Gates: "And sometimes they send people to spy on us, and they're our close allies."

Leahy: And we give aid to them.

Gates: So - that's the real world that we deal with. But I would tell you this. First of all, this is not a war without end.