Central Intelligence Agency
American espionage bureau
The Central Intelligence Agency is the principal foreign intelligence service of the United States government, responsible for gathering and analyzing information about other nations.
Usually referred to by its initialism CIA: The CIA conducted covert operations during the Cold War.
The agency has no domestic law enforcement authority, distinguishing it from the FBI.
Covert information gatherer
- covertIntentionally concealed
- agentOne who acts independently
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- infiltrateEnter secretly to observe
surveillance · reconnaissance · counterintelligence · mole · clandestine · dead drop · tradecraft · exfiltrate
Secret military or intelligence activities
- regime changeReplacement of governing power
- assassinationMurder of a prominent figure
- drone strikeRemotely piloted aerial attack
- extraordinary renditionClandestine cross-border detainee transfer
black site · enhanced interrogation · coup · propaganda · psychological warfare · counterterrorism · arms trafficking · proxy war
Intelligence agency location
- headquartersCentral command location
- directorOne who leads
- analystOne who examines systematically
- operativeCovert field agent
field agent · case officer · station chief · national security · paramilitary operations · spymaster · deputy director · division
Restricted from disclosure
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- top secretHighest classification level
- redactedOfficially removed from view
- compartmentalizedDivided into isolated sections
need-to-know · non-disclosure · concealment · cover story · legend · safe house · front company · plausible deniability
Prolonged East-West standoff
- Soviet UnionFormer communist superstate
- terrorismIntimidation through targeted violence
- foreign policyInternational relations strategy
- superpowerDominant nation or magical ability
sanctions · regime · insurgency · alliance · adversary · Five Eyes · Middle East · intervention
spy
Covert information gatherer
- covertIntentionally concealed
- agentOne who acts independently
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
infiltrate · surveillance · reconnaissance · counterintelligence · mole · clandestine · dead drop · tradecraft · exfiltrate · sleeper cell
covert operations
Secret military or intelligence activities
- regime changeReplacement of governing power
- assassinationMurder of a prominent figure
- drone strikeRemotely piloted aerial attack
extraordinary rendition · black site · enhanced interrogation · coup · propaganda · psychological warfare · counterterrorism · arms trafficking · proxy war · destabilization
Langley
Intelligence agency location
- headquartersCentral command location
- directorOne who leads
- analystOne who examines systematically
operative · field agent · case officer · station chief · national security · paramilitary operations · spymaster · deputy director · division · bureau
classified
Restricted from disclosure
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- top secretHighest classification level
- redactedOfficially removed from view
compartmentalized · need-to-know · non-disclosure · concealment · cover story · legend · safe house · front company · plausible deniability · cloak-and-dagger
Cold War
Prolonged East-West standoff
- Soviet UnionFormer communist superstate
- terrorismIntimidation through targeted violence
- foreign policyInternational relations strategy
superpower · sanctions · regime · insurgency · alliance · adversary · Five Eyes · Middle East · intervention · nation-state
Central Intelligence AgencyFBI
U.S. domestic intelligence agency
Federal Bureau of Investigation · Department of Homeland Security · ATF · state police · DEA
Central Intelligence AgencyWikiLeaks
Transparency organization publishing leaks
FOIA · open government · public records office · free press · whistleblowers
central, centrally, center, centre, centrist, centrism, centralize, centralization, decentralize