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Nevertheless, in pursuing the interests of their governments, they may break the laws of other governments to get information. Consequently, intelligence work has also been defined as “the organized theft of information.” Combating Terrorist Activity Intelligence agents do not generally spy on their own people, although they may monitor subversive or potentially dangerous domestic organizations, such as antigovernment groups. However, the degree to which an intelligence agency uses devious and sometimes forceful means depends very much on the state of the country and the level of the threat. For example, where territory is disputed, an intelligence agency may become more belligerent, or warlike. In Israel, where Palestinian territories are occupied, the intelligence agencyMossad applies military intelligence to combat terrorist organizations, such as the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Hamas, Fatah, and The Popular Front for the Liberation of Pales- tine. The same has been true of British intelligence agencies working to counter the terrorist activities of the Irish Republican Army. Attack cannot always be prevented, but specialist antiterrorist intelligence forces are essential to any country menaced by terrorist strikes. Shown here is the aftermath of an Irish Republican Army (IRA) bomb blast at the Docklands Light Railway, London in February 1996.

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GOVERNMENT INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES