As I recall, this was using spy satellites.

Do any of you know how spy satellites work?

The only way the polar bear studies would have interfered with spy work would have been if there were terrorists we should have been tracking in Nunavut, Greenland or on the polar ice caps. The orbits of these satellites take them over these territories in addition to the ones that house terrorists.

Since the satellites have to be monitored at all times, the only "additional expense" would be someone doing the functional equivalent of clicking the pictures and emailing them to scientists.

Get a grip!