Final answer:
The best outcome for a spy in an espionage activity is to obtain information without the target realizing it. Undetected operations allow for ongoing intelligence gathering and prevent the target from taking countermeasures. This approach aligns with strategic principles of espionage, where secrecy and the reliable management of spies are crucial.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best outcome for a spy attempting an espionage activity is C. To obtain information without the target even realizing he did so. This outcome ensures that the spy can continue gathering intelligence without alerting the target to a security breach, maintaining the element of surprise and allowing for ongoing operations.
The ability to remain undetected is paramount, as it prevents the target from implementing countermeasures. According to points made in historical and strategic texts on espionage, such as those derived from Sun Tzu's The Art of War, the use of spies is an essential part of military strategy and intelligence gathering.
Key principles involve not only collecting information but also managing spies with intuitive sagacity, benevolence, and straightforwardness to ensure the reliability of their reports. In some historical contexts, like during the Cold War, espionage also included sabotage and even assassination, though these actions go beyond the scope of a spy's primary purpose of information gathering.
The ultimate strategic advantage comes from using spies in such a way that their presence and activities remain undetectable to the enemy, thereby safeguarding one's own tactical dispositions and capitalizing on the enemy's ignorance. This aligns with Sun Tzu's advice on maintaining secrecy and using intelligence wisely for strategic gains.