China and Russia 'Spying' on U.S. at Cold War Levels

While our government is totally preoccupied with Iraq, other potential enemies are getting very little attention. Return to cold war levels of hostility falls on the lap of this bellicose President:

China and Russia are spying on the United States nearly as much as they did during the Cold War, according to the top U.S. intelligence official.

Mike McConnell, the director of national intelligence, says in testimony prepared for a Tuesday congressional hearing that a law passed last month expanding the U.S. government's eavesdropping power is needed to protect not just against terrorists but also against more traditional potential adversaries, such as those two Cold War foes.

I don't remember it being argued that we needed the law to protect us from spying from China and Russia:

Congress last month hastily adopted the Protect America Act just before it went on summer vacation, propelled by McConnell's warnings of a need to close a dangerous gap in U.S. intelligence law.

Some lawmakers are now having second thoughts as the complicated law — intended to make it easier for the government to intercept foreign calls and e-mails — has come under attack by civil liberties and privacy advocates who contend it gives the government broader powers than intended.

Bush should be trying to make Russia and ally, not an enemy. Then again, he thinks he's the king of the World. Remember his neo-fascist line: "If you're not with, your against us." The danger of world war increases dramatically with the upcoming war with Iran. China is already arming the Taliban:

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday warned against the use of force in Iran and against unilateral sanctions to punish Tehran for its nuclear program.

"We are convinced that no modern problem has a military solution, and that applies to the Iranian nuclear program as well," Lavrov said after talks with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

"We are seriously concerned about increasingly frequent reports that military action against Iran is being seriously considered," Lavrov said.