UK/TERRORISM: The fight against international terrorism is putting counter-espionage activity at risk, according to a new report on the work of the British Intelligence Services, Frank Millar in London
Citing the spying activities of countries such as China and Russia, the British parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee warns that "because of the necessary additional effort allocated to counter terrorism, risks are being taken in the area of counter espionage" and that "other important work is not being carried out as fully as Ministers and the Agencies themselves would wish."
It states that the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and GCHQ "will need further additional funds if the collection gaps are to be reduced and the UK's ability to identify, monitor and disrupt threat from abroad is to be improved".
The report says the agencies should have been alerted to the threat posed by al Qaeda three years earlier, following the East Africa Embassy bombings.