[ozzymandus]

In other news, Russia is still run by nasty people.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

All countries are run by persons looking out for the vital national interests of their country (there may be some exceptions in the case of the US). As such they have national goals which they use spies to accomplish.

In the case of the US, we are such an open society that all that is required is to pick up the information. Many times the Government agency will mail it to them in many instanstances for no cost.

This does not mean that everyone collecting info from us bears us no ill will. In many instances they would shoot us between the eyes in a second or cut our throats with the greatest glee.