The CIA - Research Paper Example

The agency was established in the year 1947 through an act accented to by the then President. The National Security Act was signed by President Truman. Apart from creating the agency, this act also established the office of the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) who was supposed to be the President’s chief advisor on matters of national security as he was also the head of the United States intelligence community. The DCI was also supposed to head the Central Intelligence Agency. However, in the year 2004, the National Security Act was amended through the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act.

This amendment created the office of Director of National Intelligence to take up a number of roles previously carried out by the DCI. It also ensured that the Central Intelligence Agency was under a separate Director. Such agencies as the CIA are employed in performing intelligence gathering services and not the US military as these can easily lead to the declaration of wars. During World War II, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was created with the purpose of coordinating espionage activities against the Axis Powers.

The CIA was thus created as a successor of this office. Basically, the CIA is charged with the responsibility of collecting information about corporations, foreign governments and individuals in addition to advising policymakers. The agency is headquartered in McLean, Virginia. In some quarters, the CIA is referred to as Other Government Agencies (OGA), The Agency, Langley and The Company. In trying to accomplish its mission, the CIA requires the deployment of high leverage technology, carrying out of research and development for purposes of intelligence.

To ensure that the intelligence consumer acquires the best possible intelligence, the CIA engages closely with other agencies and organizations within the Intelligence Community and also carries out independent analyses of topics that are of concern2. The agency