Apart from the descriptions of intercept technology and Moscow's
communications satellites, the most significant contribution of this book
is that it reveals the extensive cooperation among Canada's CSE, Britain's
GCHQ, and the American NSA. The three are almost a single entity, and are
able to function outside the laws of their own countries through the simple
expedient of secretly shifting assignments among them whenever the legal
situation might prove embarrassing. So when Margaret Thatcher asked GCHQ to
spy on two of her ministers in 1983, GCHQ felt it was too hot to handle and
invited CSE to visit London and bring their intercept equipment. Now the
"take" is considered "information from a friendly agency," no warrants are
needed, and everyone is laughing all the way to their computers. Except for
a couple of cabinet ministers, that is.
ISBN 0-385-25494-6