what is the CIA all about? what role does it play for the u.s.a?

Answer 1

The Central Intelligence Agency is the primary civilian (that is to say, non-military) foreign intelligence organization for the United States. Prior to post-9/11 and Iraq War restructuring, the head of the CIA, the Director of Central Intelligence, was also technically responsible for the oversight of all foreign intelligence-gathering activities. That is no longer the case--that task is now the responsibility of the Director of National Intelligence.

The CIA is not a cabinet-level agency, but has direct access to the President through the National Security Advisor.

The vast majority of spying done by the United States comes in the form of "signal intelligence"--wire-tapping, e-mail snooping, et cetera--and the all-important and related field of cryptography--the study of cyphers and codes. That work is handled largely by the National Security Agency, which is part of the Department of Defensel.

The CIA is more responsible for "human intelligence"--information acquired specifically from human sources, e.g. foreign agents, et cetera. The agency also engages in "wet works" operations--clandestine paramilitary actions, the transport of weapons and money to foreign groups under unconventional circumstances, et cetera.


Much of the work the Agency does in the field of intelligence analysis--the conversion of raw intelligence into something useful. This includes translation and categorization of foreign language intelligence documents, analysis of satellite images collected by the National Reconnaisance Office, and similar tasks.

Sometimes, the CIA is involved in back-channel diplomacy--communication between nations when direct interaction (public summits, meetings at the UN, et cetera) are, for whatever reason, impossible. There is a CIA officer in place at every U.S. Embassy in the world, and at many consulates as well. (Officers in these positions are using what is called "official cover." This is in contrast to concealing their activities using a dummy corporation or front organization, otherwise known as "non-official cover.")

I hope this helps.

[Edit: In response to some info above, the CIA is prohibited from collecting intelligence within the United States; however, this is also the case for the NSA. Domestic intelligence-gathering is the responsibility of the FBI. Whether or not they follow those rules explicitly is a matter of debate.]

Answer 2

They gather and analyze information on foreign governments and some foreign individuals. Once upon a time, they were an option for the president to use if he wanted to secretly effect a change abroad that would not fly here politically, like organizing and funding coups in the Middle East and Latin America. Beginning in the 1990s, the government began scaling down their resources and power, and the CIA shifted its information from active, on-the-ground intelligence gathering to the analysis of documents and satellite imagery. This "emasculation" of the CIA is often pointed at as one reason the US was unable to foil the 9/11 plot before it happened. Today, Rumsfeld is pushing hard for the Pentagon to take over much of the CIA's traditional intelligence role, and he is winning the fight.

Answer 3

The CIA role is to provide fabricated intelligence on what ever country Bush wants to attack next.

Answer 4

The primary purpose of the CIA is to give every paranoid in the world some way to blame the USA for everything that happens.

Answer 5

the CIA or Central Intelligence Agency is the department resposible for gathering information discretely on other countries, another words they are spys. They can operate in any country in the world ( or will work in any country in the world). However, it is illegal for them to operate within the u.s boarders. (but they probably do anyways)

Answer 6

there are two branches of the Security community in the United States...

1. N.S.A. - The National Security Agency...they handle all thing domestic (in country)

2. C.I.A. - the Central Intellegence Agency...They handle all threats Globally that affect the United States.....Foiling assasination plots of our political leaders as well as those of other countries that we consider our allies. they also control the flood of terror cells and terror plots against theis great nation....alot of things we don't think of or even fathom because there are people out there who wish to destroy our great nation.

Answer 7

they do the foreign surveillance and info gathering...they are spies.