Since 9/11/01 and the beginning of the war on terrorism, intelligence gathering has become an ever increasing problem and necessity. There was an apparent breakdown in intelligence information, and the sharing of this information by the CIA and FBI so that no one anticipated what was to happen. There are some who feel that the disaster could have been prevented by proper coordination of the various agencies. In fact, a special 9/11 Commission was formed by Congress to answer such questions as: why didn't we know about the plans of the bombers? Could the attack have been prevented? Could we improve our handling of intelligence of future threats? Included in their report was the apparent dysfunction of communication between intelligence and the White House before the invasion of Iraq. Was the preemptive invasion of Iraq justified? Did Iraq really have WMD's? Were they really developing a nuclear weapon? These are all moot questions, but they are playing a big part in the upcoming presidential election. The goal of the commission is to improve our intelligence gathering capability and its processing. A special Homeland Security Department has been established with cabinet level status to facilitate this processing.
Spying has always been an important part of the intelligence establishment. This was especially true during the cold war between the US and the USSR. Both sides knew this was going on, and it was delicately tolerated. Many of these spies had diplomatic immunity, and if one was caught in the act, he was usually deported in a prisoner exchange. Sophisticated spy equipment was devised such as high altitude spy planes with special telescopic cameras, and then later spy satellites. However, the most valuable kind of spy work was the infiltration of the enemies' spy network with double agents and counterspies. On-the-ground surveillance is still considered the best.
Did you know that God has His own intelligence gathering organization involving millions of super spies? God has "eyes that run to and fro through the whole earth" (Zech. 4"10). There is a constant stream of these heavenly angelic spies traveling between heaven and earth and reporting to the Director. "By the holy beings surrounding His throne. the Lord keeps up a constant communication with the inhabitants of the earth" (4 BC 1179). This constant flow of messengers in the throne room would suggest a scene of utter confusion and feverish activity. However, the opposite is true; the government of heaven is one of perfect organization with no duplication of effort. Every courier has his appointed task and the whole scene is governed and controlled by an omnipotent and omniscient God. Everything is done with perfect order and symmetry. "Order is heaven's first law" (6T 201). We are under the constant surveillance and scrutiny of "Heaven's CIA."
