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FROM COLD WAR TO HOT PEACE 485
a case for the continued existence of the British intelligence and
security services. He argued that superpower rivalry during the
Cold War had offered 'its own grim version of stability', and
that while the collapse of Communism had reduced one cataclysmic
threat, it had also brought many new dangers. He spoke
of a 'rising tide of nationalism and fanaticism, untried alliances,
untested groupings, new rivalries and new ambitions'. Rather
philosophically, he added: 'Greed, envy and corruption ... are
as prevalent as ever.' Few were inclined to argue. In the ensuing
debate, former Cabinet Secretaries and former Prime Ministers
held forth, reflecting decades of experience as both managers
and customers of the British intelligence community. Jim
Callaghan argued that the intelligence services had grown large
and powerful during the Cold War, and 'cost a great deal of
money'. He urged that the most urgent task facing the new
Intelligence and Security Committee was to review the future
of GCHQ, which he described as 'a full blown bureaucracy', and
added that the new oversight bodies should 'investigate whether
all the functions that GCHQ carries out today are still necessary'.
He was not the only one asking this question. With the
Cold War over, some were now daring to ask what the future
purpose of GCHQ might be. 56