I'm not sure I understand your question. Nations conduct foreign intelligence primarily to inform policy makers in ways that help them further their own national interests. The majority of the time, doing so doesn't involve military or clandestine intervention. The specific reasons are as varied as nations and national interests. It could be as a diplomacy tool, to identify strategic areas for investment, to make informed decisions about trade policy and treaties, or just to keep track of what's going on in the rest of the world.
Wow... So I turned to my right, where "The Art of Software Security Assessment" is sitting on my desk, then I read your profile and did a double take.
Thank you for writing that wonderful book!
Also, thanks for your reply. I didn't really have a focused question; I'm just interested in learning more about the government and its machinations. It's quite interesting to know that gathering intel about strategic areas for investment falls within their purview.
