The National Security Agency (NSA) is an intelligence organization of the United States government, responsible for global monitoring, collection, and processing of information and data for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence purposes. Although many of NSA's programs rely on "passive" electronic collection, the agency is authorized to accomplish its objectives through clandestine operations involving close surveillance, sabotage, burglary, wiretapping, breaking and entering, and other such "Mission Impossible" type activities.