intelligence community
Nation's espionage apparatus
The intelligence community is the network of government agencies responsible for gathering, analyzing, and acting on information about foreign powers, threats, and strategic interests.
In the United States, this includes the CIA, NSA, FBI, and over a dozen other agencies: The intelligence community issued warnings about the attack.
The term implies coordination—and sometimes rivalry—among agencies with overlapping missions.
U.S. foreign intelligence service
- NSAFederal cryptologic intelligence agency
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- MI6UK espionage agency
- MI5British domestic intelligence agency
Mossad · RAW · INR · DNI · station chief · analyst · case officer · director
Covert information gatherer
- agentOne who acts independently
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- handlerOne who manages something
- assetItem of value owned
tradecraft · dead drop · double agent · sleeper cell · counterintelligence · infiltration · defector · exfiltration
Hidden listening device
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
tracking · drone · satellite imagery · SIGINT · HUMINT · collection · watch list · target
Restricted from disclosure
- top secretHighest classification level
- compartmentalizedDivided into isolated sections
- need-to-knowAccess limited by necessity
- clearancePermitted passage or approval
redacted · clandestine · covert · black site · eyes only · SAP · declassified · leak
Unacknowledged governmental intervention
- renditionPerformed version of work
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- extractionAct of removing
- regime changeReplacement of governing power
paramilitary · propaganda · disinformation · psychological warfare · sabotage · assassination · coup · proxy war
CIA
U.S. foreign intelligence service
- NSAFederal cryptologic intelligence agency
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- MI6UK espionage agency
MI5 · Mossad · RAW · INR · DNI · station chief · analyst · case officer · director · liaison
spy
Covert information gatherer
asset · tradecraft · dead drop · double agent · sleeper cell · counterintelligence · infiltration · defector · exfiltration · legend
wiretap
Hidden listening device
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
reconnaissance · tracking · drone · satellite imagery · SIGINT · HUMINT · collection · watch list · target · metadata
classified
Restricted from disclosure
- top secretHighest classification level
- compartmentalizedDivided into isolated sections
- need-to-knowAccess limited by necessity
clearance · redacted · clandestine · covert · black site · eyes only · SAP · declassified · leak · whistleblower
covert action
Unacknowledged governmental intervention
- renditionPerformed version of work
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- extractionAct of removing
regime change · paramilitary · propaganda · disinformation · psychological warfare · sabotage · assassination · coup · proxy war · plausible deniability
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- Intelligence AgenciesCIA, FBI, NSA, MI5, MI6
- intelligence oversightCIA, FBI, NSA, DNI, congressional oversight
- national securityCIA, FBI, NSA, Pentagon, DHS
- Surveillance AllianceFive Eyes, NSA, SIGINT, data sharing, mass surveillance
- intelligencesmart, IQ, memory, bright, clever
intelligence communityfree press
Journalism without censorship
open government · whistleblowers · WikiLeaks · public records · investigative journalism
intelligence communitylaw enforcement
Upholding legal codes
police departments · diplomatic corps · military operations · criminal justice system · police
intelligence communityWikiLeaks
Transparency organization publishing leaks
Edward Snowden · leakers · Chelsea Manning · hacktivists · Anonymous
intelligence, community, intelligent, intelligently, unintelligent, intelligentsia, intellect, intellectual, intellectually