State vs. Non-State

One thing that strikes you when reading this intriguing report on recent revelations about Soviet espionage against the United States during the Cold War is how serious the threat was.

Put in a contemporary context, it's clear that "non-state actors" like al Qaeda could not penetrate high levels of the U.S. government or have an extensive network of well-placed sympathizers. China, however, could.

That doesn't mean that non-state actors aren't dangerous, but it does put the threat in perspective.