Michelle Taggart, age 16, of Great Falls, Mont., for her question:

WHAT EXACTLY IS ESPIONAGE?

Espionage is the act of spying on a country, organization or movement. Governments and other groups send secret agents called spies into an enemy area or a possible enemy area to gather information.

In espionage, a spy seeks valuable military, political, scientific and production facts and secrets. People spy for money or to help a case in which they believe.

Espionage is one of the main information gathering parts of an intelligence organization. The agency evaluates and interprets bits and pieces of information from its agents. Its research experts gather data from publications. It pieces these bits of knowledge together, much as a jigsaw puzzle, until the whole picture can be seen.

Records show that espionage is as old as war. The ancient Egyptians developed it into a fine art. The Bible also tells us that Moses sent spies into Canaan. In more modern times, Frederick the Great of Prussia is credited with originating systematically organized espionage.

George Washington's network of spies obtained intelligence and information for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War in America. Allan Pinkerton directed espionage and counterespionage for the Union Army during the early days of the Civil War. Later, a Bureau of Information carried on this work.

Counterespionage usually is set up to foil espionage. It seeks to prevent the successful stealing of secrets. Agents may pose as spies to gain the confidence of real spies and to learn about the members and aims of the enemy spy system. Such agents are called counterspies or double agents.

All countries have agencies that seek to safeguard information essential to national security. These agencies also gather information essential to the country's safety, military defense or general well being.

 

During World War II, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) conducted government overseas espionage and intelligence operations. Then in 1947, Congress established the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to coordinate government intelligence activities and to carry on its own operations.

In 1954, Congress passed a law making peactime espionage against the United States punishable by death. The death penalty for espionage had been imposed previously only during wartime.

The director of the CIA reports to the National Security Council, which includes the President. The CIA reportedly spends about $2 billion a year.

In 1956, a committee of experts was set up to help the president review and control intelligence operations. This group is now called the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.

Through the years, publicity received by some of the operations of the CIA has embarrassed the government.