Economic Espionage: The Threat to U.S. Industry.

The United States, a leader in creative technological research and development, is a prime target for economic espionage. In recent months, government officials have begun to speak out about this problem. In a recent speech, Central Intelligence Agency CIA Director Robert Gates focused on the changing activities of foreign intelligence efforts when he reported, Some foreign intelligence services have turned from politics to economics and the United States is their prime target. President Bush also expressed concern about such activities when he stated in a speech, We must . . . thwart anyone who tries to steal our technology or otherwise refuses to play by fair economic rules.