General Discussion

Lionel Mandrake

(4,195 posts)

19. The intelligence community does more than just spy.

Fri Jul 11, 2014, 06:41 PM

Jul 2014

It also reads open sources, such as newspapers, to answer many of the types of questions you asked. The CIA for example also publishes maps and other stuff about various countries. You can find many of their unclassified publications in a good library.

The problem with espionage is that you must balance the importance of the information so obtained against the likelihood of, and repercussions from, getting caught.

IMO our government has lost its sense of balance since 9/11.

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Why are we spying on Germany? [View all] Lionel Mandrake Jul 2014 OP

I suspect we spy on alsame Jul 2014 #1

Yes and no. Lionel Mandrake Jul 2014 #12

Absolutely. I'm not defending alsame Jul 2014 #15

we can librechik Jul 2014 #2

This message was self-deleted by its author cerveza_gratis Jul 2014 #3

Which program was that? Lionel Mandrake Jul 2014 #9

Perhaps the poster is referring to our spying on East Germany before it was absorbed amandabeech Jul 2014 #37

About Angela Merkel and her family ... Lionel Mandrake Jul 2014 #41

Everyone spies on everyone BainsBane Jul 2014 #4

That is where 8 of the 911 hijackers came from -- Hamburg KurtNYC Jul 2014 #5

Not exactly. Lionel Mandrake Jul 2014 #8

The Germans spy also and sometimes they get caught also. We sure cannot believe Putin when Thinkingabout Jul 2014 #26

Everyone spies on everyone, all the time. Dreamer Tatum Jul 2014 #6

EXACTLY...talk about phony outrage KinMd Jul 2014 #43

Industrial and financial espionage Aerows Jul 2014 #7

Yup. Our intelligence agencies are about financial and industrial espionage riderinthestorm Jul 2014 #21

I disagree. Lionel Mandrake Jul 2014 #22

Even the NSA admits they aren't about terrorism riderinthestorm Jul 2014 #25

To overcome the strudel gap. rug Jul 2014 #10

Heh heh. Lionel Mandrake Jul 2014 #14

MMMM! Strudel! BillZBubb Jul 2014 #27

Spying makes the world go around! Everyone does it, the US just gets caught RKP5637 Jul 2014 #11

Because it would be unfair to give Germany special treatment. Rex Jul 2014 #13

That's the answer that probably makes the most sense! nt BillZBubb Jul 2014 #28

The way of the world. Rex Jul 2014 #38

To learn how they got so good at soccer n/t phylny Jul 2014 #16

"We do what we must, because we can." Maedhros Jul 2014 #17

That's almost always a bad answer! nt BillZBubb Jul 2014 #30

It's easier when you understand why countries spy on each other. stevenleser Jul 2014 #18

The intelligence community does more than just spy. Lionel Mandrake Jul 2014 #19

For our European allies, just about everything you listed BillZBubb Jul 2014 #29

You're being naive. Which of those 10 items would they freely answer ? Throd Jul 2014 #32

Exactly. They wouldn't freely and truthfully answer any of them stevenleser Jul 2014 #35

Hardly... stevenleser Jul 2014 #34

Easy. KamaAina Jul 2014 #20

To find out if they have any plans for WWIII? treestar Jul 2014 #23

I know nothing! Separation Jul 2014 #24

Spy's are generally bad Peregrine Jul 2014 #31

Hoping to get personal dirt on someone to use as blackmail no_hypocrisy Jul 2014 #33

Because we don't want them to sneak another Pearl Harbor on us. Hassin Bin Sober Jul 2014 #36

Because freedom. Because Hitler. Because we can. n/t eridani Jul 2014 #39

cell phones are not private... the NSA listens to lots of radio signals. quadrature Jul 2014 #40

For soccer tips bigwillq Jul 2014 #42

But their superiority in soccer is easily explained. Lionel Mandrake Jul 2014 #44