true, but as we've come to see, a big proportion of the spying efforts of the NSA are being directed towards information gathering, for various other reasons th

true, but as we've come to see, a big proportion of the spying efforts of the NSA are being directed towards information gathering, for various other reasons than threat assessment. e.g. i don't think many people would have believed the NSA to be spying on US allies, or being involved in industrial espionage.