Judaism had long guarded its traditional chanting modes against outside influence, particularly the taint of church music.
The vested interests that own and control the bourses are hard to satisfy; regulation of markets that operate across borders is inevitably awkward, since it has long been jealously guarded at national level; old-fashioned protectionism impels many governments to preserve "their" stock exchanges.
Pimco's compensation has long been a closely guarded secret, an irony as the firm's ugly politics have often played out in the open.
The identity of the Stig, famous for his white race overalls and helmet, has long been a closely guarded Top Gear secret, spawning T-shirts emblazoned with slogans such as "My Dad is The Stig".
He has long been concerned about guarding judicial independence, and it was in those terms that he framed his critique of the Feeney Amendment.
The state prison guard union has long raised objections to vigorous screening of guards as they arrive and leave work, noting that the state would have to pay large amounts for the extra time that would add to each shift.
In Russia, the prosecutor has long served as the guard dog of the powerful.
The Prison Officers' Association POAA), whose 30,000 members work principally as prison guards, has long had a reputation for bloody-mindedness.
Disappointment with the old guard has long been coming through clearly in local elections for city mayors and prefectural governors, where all sorts of mavericks and outsiders have gained power.
What seems beyond doubt is that Koussa has long represented the old guard which for decades was close to Gaddafi, but which – if the Tripoli rumour mill is to be believed – has recently been pushed aside by Gaddafi's competing sons.
