Why Does Russia Need Spies?

What was an FBI counter-intelligence expert doing spying for Russia? Robert Philip Hanssen was arrested Sunday after FBI agents watched him drop off a package they say contained classified information at a park near his home in Northern Virginia.

Hanssen, who is 56, and has six children, was alleged to have received $1.4 million from the Russians in cash and diamonds. Prosecutors say he could face a death sentence, if convicted.

Hanssen is charged with beginning his spying in the mid-80's and continuing after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990. FBI director Louis Freeh called him a traitor.

My question is, why do the Russians need spies if communism is dead? Unless it isn't dead. We know why the Chinese are after our secrets, but why Russia? And why is Russia so adamantly opposed to our building a missile defense system, unless they plan to attack us someday? Only an aggressor would be worried about another nation defending itself.

This is extremely troubling, and the administration should get to the bottom of it as quickly as possible.

I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.