# Does this make sense ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 23, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-make-sense/150563 "2003-01-23T23:22:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-make-sense/150563/1 "2003-01-23T23:22:07Z")
From this [article](http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/comp/articleshow?artid=35280991) _it is quite normal for friendly countries like the US and India to have spooks at embassies and consulates under various covers. Typically, the governments also exchange the identity of the spooks._ I don’t get the second part. What’s the point of being a spy if the spied-on party knows **you’re a spy**?? ---
**Author:** ![Cillasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Cillasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cillasi)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-make-sense/150563/2 "2003-01-23T23:36:08Z")
My guess is that there are often times when countries want to get information to each other “unofficially.” In those instances, it’s really nice to know into whose ear to whisper. But, for every known spy, there are probably three hidden. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-make-sense/150563/3 "2003-01-24T00:38:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cillasi \* > \*\*My guess is that there are often times when countries want to get information to each other “unofficially.” \*\* Ah, makes some sense. Frederick Forsythe uses them as conduits in his novel _The Devil’s Alternative_