CIA structure, leadership, and counterterrorism role

¶ … Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), its creation and the different roles it plays. The duties of the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) are also highlighted in the paper. The paper also highlights the Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 and the amendments that were made after the date of enactment. Lastly, the paper discusses the major components of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the roles played by them in order to guarantee the efficient running of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Central Intelligence Agency

The CIA is an independent agency, whose functions are not disrupted by the United States government without any necessity. This agency is dedicated towards providing national security intelligence to the senior policy makers of the United States of America. ("CIA vision, mission," 2013)

The Central Intelligence Agency, (CIA), is responsible for collecting and analyzing information in relation to the plans and strategies of the enemies of the United States of America. This agency is also responsible for collecting the information which later becomes the basis for the important decision making processes. In addition to that, the Central Intelligence Agency, (CIA), is also responsible for providing the president and the concerned policy makers with the necessary intelligence required for making various policies. It also conducts covert operations, at the direction of the president, to prevent threats from damaging the United States of America's society and to achieve policy objectives that are being set by the United States policy makers. ("CIA vision, mission," 2013)

History of CIA

Intelligence had been conducted by the Unites States of America since the times of the president Washington. But these intelligence services were coordinated on a national level during the World War II. Before the World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed William J. Donovan, who was a New York lawyer and a great war her, to act as the supervisor of information coordination. Donovan was appointed as the director of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which was the intelligence agency of the United States of America prior to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), in the year 1942. But after the World War II the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was being terminated and its functions were transmitted to the State and War Department. Apart from the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), many other war agencies of the United States of America were terminated after the World War II. ("History of the," 2013)

The foundation of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was laid down in the year 1947. It was created when President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act. The basic function of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is to help the Director of Central Intelligence Agency in carrying out his responsibilities. ("About CIA," 2013)

Two basic purposes for the creation of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) at that time were to collect and analyze all the information regarding the abilities of the friendly and unfriendly countries and to transmit this information to higher government officials. In the beginning, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) directed all its resources towards collecting as much information about Russia as possible. This concentration of intelligence services on a few countries, such as Russia, Japan and Germany, made the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) neglect the new rivals of the United States of America and hence a need for more diversified intelligence activities occurred. (Canon, 1980)

CIA Today

In the present era CIA is responsible to provide higher level government officials and policy makers with national intelligence information. The Director of Central Intelligence Agency is appointed by the president on the advice of the senate and other officials. It is the responsibility of the Director of Central Intelligence Agency to manage the personal and the operations. The Director of Central Intelligence Agency also has a staff, with the help of whom he resolves issues related to public affairs, human resources, protocol etcetera. ("Today's CIA," 2013)

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has four major components namely; National Clandestine Service, the Directorate of Intelligence, the Directorate of Science & Technology, and the Directorate of Support, all these components work in coordination to carry out the intelligence cycle. The intelligence cycle can be defined as a process of collecting, analyzing and transferring information, in relation to intelligence, to the government officials of the United States of America. ("Today's CIA," 2013)

Workforce of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

The number of workers employed in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the budget allocated for this agency are not disclosed publicly. There, however, is a misconception that prevails among the people regarding the budget allocated to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Most of the people believe that the budget allocated to this agency is unlimited. This, however, is not true as the budget allocated to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) goes through rigorous scrutiny and is approved by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Defense Subcommittees of the Appropriations Committees in both houses of Congress. Strict regulations apply to the budget allocation of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which are similar to the regulations applied on the assets and budgets of other government organizations. ("Frequently asked questions," 2013)

Leadership of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

Two major components of the leadership of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) are the; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Director of National Intelligence. ("About CIA," 2013)

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

John O. Brennan is the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency is the head of the Central Intelligence Agency and he is accountable to the Director of National Intelligence. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency is nominated by the president of the United States of America and after nomination he is being confirmed by the Senate. ("Leadership," 2013)

The duties performed by the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency include, collection of information through human resources and all other acceptable means. But he is prohibited to use the police or any other internal security service. He is also responsible to do the correlation and evaluation of the available information. In addition to that, he is also required to transfer or disseminate this information appropriately to the concerned authorities. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency is also responsible to coordinate and supervise the collection of intelligence information outside the boundaries of the United States of America with the help of the appropriate resources. ("About CIA," 2013)

In addition to the above mentioned responsibilities, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency may be required to perform any other functions that are related to, or that may affect, the national security of the United States of America on the command of the President or the Director of National Intelligence. ("About CIA," 2013)

The Director of National Intelligence

James R. Clapper is the Director of National Intelligence of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The responsibilities of the Director of National Intelligence include, ensuring that the intelligence information has been provided to the president and other government officials. He is also responsible for ensuring the timely provision of the national security intelligence to the president and other concerned authorizes. It is also the responsibility of the Director of National Intelligence to get the reports and comments of all heads of the departments of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on the preparation of the budget for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In addition to that, he has to be present in the process of the preparation of the budget. In addition to that, he is also responsible for ensuring that the National Intelligence Program has been appropriately implemented in all the departments. Apart from that, the Director of National Intelligence is responsible for supervising the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and he also has the authority to establish other intelligence centers of the same kind, if and when he considers necessary. ("Responsibilities and authorities," 2011)

Functions of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

The primary responsibility of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is the collection, analysis, evaluation and delivery of the foreign intelligence to the President and other concerned authorities. This information is transferred to the President and the policy makers so that they can make efficient decisions regarding the security of the United States of America. The process from the collection to the dissemination is very complex and it contains various steps.

First the officials of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) identify the problem that may threaten the security of the United States of America, at occasions this problem is being identified by the President or other government officials, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) then find ways to collect information about this problem. The information is being collected by the translation of the news papers or by the decryption of coded messages or through imagery satellites. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) then analysis the information and takes out the facts that might be of interest to the United States of America. This information is then given to the policy makers. It is, however, important to know that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) does not make the policies. It just provide the policy makers with relevant information and it is, then, the responsibility of the agencies such as, the State Department and Department of Defense, to formulate the policies that may benefit the United States of America in the best possible way. ("What we do," 2007)

Role of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Combating International Terrorism

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) provides all possible assistance to the government of the United States of America in fighting the international terrorist threats. It provides the government with relevant information regarding the international terrorist groups. In addition to that, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) also works with foreign governments for the purpose of combating international terrorism. It also shares important information regarding the terrorist groups with these governments. ("Frequently Asked Questions," 2007)

For the purpose of combating international terrorism the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been working with its old alliances and it has also been creating new partnerships with various countries. The CIA has been using the elements of national power such as, economic powers, financial powers and law enforcement powers, in a steadfast and systematic way in order to eliminate international terrorism not only from the United States of America but from the entire world. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) aims to defeat the international terrorism through combined international efforts. For this purpose it has been taking steps to diminish the means that provide assistance and support to terrorists globally. It has also made alliances with various countries to find out the underlying facts that support terrorist activities. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been playing an influential role in fighting against the international terrorism globally. ("National strategy for," 2003)

Intelligence Reform Act

National Intelligence Program

The intelligence reform act of 2004 amends and adds a few other things in the intelligence department of the U.S.A. According to the act, the national foreign intelligence program was replaced by the national intelligence program. (Collins, 2004)

Director of National Intelligence

This act states that a director of national intelligence shall be made by the confirmation of the senate. The Director of national intelligence shall not be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency or any other intelligence body. The act also outlines the authorities that are to be performed by the Director of national intelligence. (Collins, 2004)

The Director of National Intelligence is given the authority to build and allocate the budget of the National Intelligence program. The DNI will receive budget proposals by the heads of different elements of the intelligence community and will make the budget accordingly. The heads of other intelligence bodies will also submit their requests of budget alteration to the Director of national intelligence. (Collins, 2004)

In addition to the creation of a budget, the DNI must also ensure that it is implemented and executed properly. The Director of OMB must assign the NIP budget if exclusively directed by the DNI. The DNI must also make sure that these allocations reach their respective departments throughout the intelligence community. Moreover, the DNI must also monitor the implementation of the NIP by getting information from the heads. The DNI must report to the president and the Congress within fifteen days if any intelligence body has acted against the directives of the DNI. (Collins, 2004)

The DNI is also responsible for the reprogramming of NIP funds. The funds cannot be reprogrammed or rerouted without the DNI's permission except in situations told by the DNI. If a fund is reprogrammed with the permission of the DNI, it must be reprogrammed to a more important intelligence activity, it must improve efficiency of the program and it must not be from the CIA or DNI reserve. (Collins, 2004)

The DNI, in the financial year after the date of the act, is allowed to have 500 new non-military quarters in the office of the DNI. The DNI is also allowed to transfer 150 employees within the NIP to the office of the DNI with the permission of the Director OMB. The DNI is also allowed to transfer 100 employees to the national intelligence center with the approval of the Director of OMB. (Collins, 2004)

The DNI must also handle tasking, analysis and the employees in the NIP to ensure efficient working of the whole program. Moreover, the DNI must also make sure that the sources and methods of the intelligence community are safe and are not disclosed publicly. The DNI must also supervise the relationship of the intelligence community with the intelligence agencies of foreign countries. (Collins, 2004)

The effective provision of common services is also a responsibility of the DNI according to the act. The DNI shall also give recommendations to the president for the nominees of the deputy DNI and the Director CIA. (Collins, 2004)

The act also makes it a responsibility of the president to create an Information Sharing Environment (ISE) to avoid calamities such as 9/11. This is because of the recommendation given by the 9/11 commission about the resistance to information sharing. (Collins, 2004)

The act also creates a Privacy and Civil Liberty Oversight Board within the office of the president to ensure that liberty and privacy are considered in making laws and policies to protect the nation against terrorism. (Collins, 2004)

Within 180 days of enactment, the DNI shall make personnel responsible for alternative analysis, safeguarding objectivity in intelligence analysis and analytic integrity. These personnel will be responsible for analyzing the finished intelligence product. (Collins, 2004)

Lastly, the act also adds the establishment of national counter terrorism, national counter proliferation and national intelligence centers to the duties of the DNI. (Collins, 2004)

Major Components of the CIA

The CIA is made up of four basic components that work together to take and process the information in the intelligence cycle.

The Directorate of Support (DS)

As the name suggests, the Directorate of Support provides the CIA with a vast variety of support services. The Directorate of Support consists of skilled personnel who are determined to make the CIA prosper.The Directorate of Support is responsible for building and supporting facilities for the CIA all over the world. The Directorate of Support also ensures a secure network across which the CIA exchanges data and intelligence reports. The acquisition and supply of clandestine equipment to CIA officials in even the most remote areas around the world is also the responsibility of the Directorate of support. The Directorate of Support is also held responsible for the security of buildings, personnel and networks. The Directorate of Support also helps the CIA in hiring and training the employees for every job. In addition to that, the Directorate of Support also takes care of the health and other needs of the employees. The financial and contracting businesses in the CIA are also managed by the Directorate of support. The role of the Directorate of Support has been simple, yet important, to make sure that the networks, officers, analysts and equipment of the CIA are safe and are in a condition to work for the mission of the CIA. (Components of.., 2009)

The Directorate of Intelligence (DI)

The second component of the CIA is the Directorate of Intelligence. The Directorate of Intelligence is responsible for the analysis of information and its sources in order to generate intelligence reports for the president and other parties who are working for the betterment of the U.S.A. These reports help these people in making correct decisions. The personnel of the Directorate of Intelligence use sophisticated means such as reports from spies, satellites and data from sensors to turn the fragments of information into valuable intelligence reports. The Directorate of Intelligence uses methods of analysis to make sure that the end results of those analyze are clear and impartial. The tasks performed by the Directorate of Intelligence are exhausting but the personnel are determined to make America a safer place and nothing disrupts their determination. (Components of.., 2009)

The Directorate of Intelligence produces the intelligence products necessary for the policy makers to take efficient decisions. The products are:

The CIA World Intelligence Review (WIRe):

This is considered to be the most important product of the Directorate of Intelligence. WIRe is a daily electronic publication that helps senior policy makers and security officials to make the current developments and foreign developments that can affect U.S. interests clear for the readers. The methods and research of this paper is kept a secret as it contains information about the ways through which the Directorate of Intelligence got the information. (Components of.., 2009)

President's Daily Brief (PDB):

This is a daily product of the intelligence community under the supervision of the Director of National Intelligence. The PDB is specifically designed for the president, the vice president and the cabinet level officials. It contains issues related to the president and is not general. (Components of.., 2009)