Espionage or spying involves a government or individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information.
Espionage is inherently clandestine, as it is taken for granted that it is unwelcome and, in many cases, it is illegal and punishable by law.
It is a subset of intelligence gathering – which otherwise may be conducted from public sources and using perfectly legal and ethical means.
Espionage is usually part of an institutional effort by a government or corporation, and the term is most readily associated with state spying on potential or actual enemies primarily for military purposes.
Spying involving corporations is known as industrial espionage.
One of the most effective ways to gather data and information about an enemy (or potential enemy) is by infiltrating the enemy’s ranks.
This is the job of the spy (espionage agent).
Spies can bring back all sorts of information concerning the size and strength of an enemy forces, its weaknesses and strengths.
They can also find dissidents within the enemy’s forces and influence them to defect (a form of recruiting).
In times of crisis, spies can also be used to steal technology and to sabotage the enemy in various ways.
Counterintelligence operatives can feed false information to enemy spies, protecting important domestic secrets and preventing attempts at subversion. All part of the greater cat and mouse game between spies and counter spies.
“Nearly every country has very strict laws concerning espionage, and the penalty for being caught is often severe. However, the benefits that can be gained through espionage are generally great enough that most governments and many large corporations make use of it to varying degrees”, according to Wikipedia.
HOW TO SPY
It starts with a concept of “targeting”.
“We’ll start with a targeting process. Our objective is to get as close to the top as we can. We’ll look to map out what we can about that terrorist network, understand who the key figures are, the connections between them to try and get a real sense of who the individuals are in this particular network”, says Michael (last name withheld) in a revealing BBC new article (see: What are spies really like? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17560253 ).
Getting close to the target
“Could we get alongside them? Are they accessible? Would they have access to information that would be useful to the government?..” he says.
Blending in
You’ve got to blend in. You have to be ‘Mr Grey’ – a nobody, a person you might pass on the street but you’d forget in a second” says Shami and MI5 surveillance office. “It also involves using disguises in many cases”, says William Teller of Charlotte, N.C. “You might wear a hat for example, or a false beard” he says. “You might also impersonate someone or take on a cover identity. It helps you get close to the target”, he said.
Recruiting
“It’s the job of our officers to think: ‘Under what guise could I approach this individual? What’s the best means of developing a relationship with them?’. Each approach will be tailored to the particular agent, or prospective agent and over time persuade them to work with SIS.”
Figuring out what they want
Motivations might include disillusionment with al-Qaeda’s violent ideology, a desire to live in the UK, or money. “It could also be revenge”, says Howard Cooper of Charlotte, N.C. “People are motivated in many different ways. It becomes a matter of figuring out what they want”, he said.
Surveillance
Surveillance, both human and technical, was the bedrock of the covert operations that led to the conviction of the Islamist cells that were planning to make fertilizer bombs to attack London and the South East of England, and liquid explosives to bring down aircraft over the Atlantic.
Anonymity is the key
“You’re constantly analyzing your own behavior as well as the behavior of others. The clothes you’re wearing, how you’re walking and how you’re talking, are all factors that you constantly have to be thinking about.
“You’ve got to blend in. You have to be ‘Mr. Grey’ – a nobody, a person you might pass on the street but you’d forget in a second.”
“The professional spy relies more on this than those in the private sector who work for reward money from the FBO or Justice Department”, says Martin Younger of Charlotte, N.C.
Finding the missing piece
“Fuinding that missing clue or missing piece of vital of information that will go on to cause loss of life”, says Doug Williams of Charlotte. “then you have to be able to connecting the dots, so to speak”, he said.
Analyzing intelligence information
Part of the job of a spy is to analyze intelligence coming in from a variety of different technical and human sources – and from partner agencies. “It could be news sources, internet, government documents and regular people”, says Thomas Dunn, a counterterrorism expert in Charlotte, N.C. “”It’s really like piecing together a jigsaw. Or connecting the dots”, he says.
FBI spies – what they do
“Every day, special agents, intelligence analysts, language analysts, and professional support staff within our division and in the field are working to inform and support FBI operational activities. A key component of the National Security Branch, the Directorate of Intelligence manages all FBI intelligence activities and works with all Bureau offices, making certain that intelligence is embedded in every investigative program and field office. We continue to adapt and improve upon our collection, analysis, and dissemination capabilities in a proactive fashion, while protecting the civil liberties of all Americans”, FBI website (source: “Director of Intelligence” http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/intelligence )
Intelligence Philosophy
“To perform its mission, the FBI employs a number of core tools, including investigative techniques, forensics, information technologies, and strategic partnerships”, according to the FBI Directorate of Intelligence website.
Intelligence “is also one of those core tools.
intelligence is an integral part of the FBI’s investigative mission.
It is embedded in the “day-to-day” operations of the FBI, from the initiation of preliminary investigations to the development of FBI-wide investigative strategies, according to its website.
The tool of intelligence is more important than ever in today’s threat environment. The threats facing the United States are evolving.
Threats are global, and often emanate from transnational enterprises that rely on sophisticated information technology. They transcend geographic boundaries, as well as the boundaries of authorities in the U.S. national security infrastructure.
In this threat environment, having the right information at the right time is essential to protecting national security” (source: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/intelligence/philosophy).
Seeing how counter-intelligence actually works in a practical sense is very important”, says Jack Johnson of Charlotte, N.C. a counter intelligence expert in the private sector, who reviewed this article before publication.
See great instructional video: “How the FBI caught Anna Chapman, Russian spies explained” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im6nRx5mIWQ