The only safe assumption about the spooks ...
is that they are all at it. It is probably reasonable to take their butter-does-not-melt-in-my-mouth statements that they are within ''rules'' as just more deception to the man in the street: either following rules that few know about or just bare faced lies.
The more interesting question is which of their political masters know the full extent of what they are up to. I doubt that none of the politicians know the full extent - just how many ?
Biting the hand that feeds IT
