Espionage
Espionage is the governmental or corporate practice of obtaining secrets (spying) from rivals or enemies for military, political, or economic advantage. A spy is an agent employed to obtain such secrets. Historically the definition was restricted to a state spying on potential or actual enemies, primarily for military purposes, but has extended to spying involving corporations, known specifically as Industrial espionage. Most nations routinely spy on their enemies, and allies, although they generally deny this. Black's Law Dictionary (1990) defines espionage as: "...gathering, transmitting, or losing...[information related to the national defense]." Espionage, by a citizen of the target state, is generally considered to be a form of treason.
The Cold War involved intense espionage activity between the United States of America and its allies and the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China and their allies, particulary related to nuclear weapons secrets.
Recently, espionage agencies have targeted the illegal drug trade and terroristss.
Sometimes a spy carries a suicide pill to swallow when captured.
See: Cold War espionage
Spies in various conflicts
Notable spies or alleged spies
for United States (CIA)
for Soviet Union (KGB)
for Israel (Mossad)
for United Kingdom/England (MI5/MI6)
for East Germany (Stasi)
for France
for Germany
Unknown affiliation
Fictional spies
Espionage organizations
See also Intelligence agencies and Special Operations Executive
Secret agent, Spy fiction, numbers station, surveillance, List of cryptographers.Intelligence disciplines
See List of intelligence gathering disciplines
Espionage technology and techniques
Counter-espionage technology and techniques
External links
See also