Introduction
The Central Intelligence Agency was established in 1947 by the National Security Act. The agency’s role was limited to only providing national intelligence on transcendent issues (Johnson 1991). It did this by coordinating the information collected by the various department of government. CIA has historically taken a leadership role in government liaison within the national security establishment. The agency enjoys an elaborate round the clock publishing capability, allowing its analysts to prepare eye-catching, color reports on glossy paper.
Existence of CIA agency
When war broke again in 1941 it was suspected that America would join the war and thus there was need to boost the nation’s intelligence apparatus (Johnson 1991). British intelligence had a high reputation in the United States and thus two officials were sent to find out how it worked. In July 1941, President Roosevelt established the Office of Coordinator of Information (OCI).
In December, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and America was at war. Roosevelt and his war cabinet steadily ratcheted up the nation’s intelligence capability. In June 1942 the president issued an executive order that replaced the OCI intelligence with a larger agency, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) (Meiners, Ringleb & Edwards 2006). Towards the end of the war it was recommended that a central intelligence agency with substantial capability be established. The idea of central intelligence agency was seen as a means of countering the soviet unions. The Soviets were an adversary to be feared because their victory over Germany had empowered and emboldened them. They were also feared because of their alien communist ideology.
Work of Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence agency used its instruments in the 1990s against Iraq and Kosovo. The CIA engaged in a series of efforts to undermine Saddam Hussein. Under Bill Clinton, the CIA supported the Iraqi National Congress spending about $120 million seeking Hussein assassination.
Power of Central Intelligence Agency
The anticommunist crusade which was formed during the war granted extra-legal powers to CIA. The 1947 Act also contained a small clause which granted the CIA power to perform some functions and duties related to intelligence. It was supposed to perform intelligence duties affecting the national security as directed by the president or National Security Council (Meiners, Ringleb & Edwards 2006). The Central Intelligence Act passed two years later exempted the agency form normal financial controls regulating the expenditure of public funds. In order to protect the details of its programs, the agency was not required to disclose its organizational functions to the Congress. In addition to having extra-legal powers, the CIA was to operate under a veil of secrecy. Given its unique status, the CIA was the primary agency charged with mind control research during the Cold War.
To whom does the agency report to?
Central Intelligence Agency operates independently in large measure. It is under the council’s direction on specific matters as the council may desire from time to time (Meiners, Ringleb & Edwards 2006). The director of the agency receives guidance from the secretaries of state and defense.
Legislative and judicial role in CIA
Law enforcement concerning the CIA is overseen by the judiciary. Judiciary enacted the National Security Act on the CIA which clearly indicated the powers of the agency (Meiners, Ringleb & Edwards 2006).
Involvement of the military force in law enforcement was regulated by the judiciary.
Reference list
Johnson, L. (1991).America’s secret power: the CIA in a democratic society. Chicago: Oxford University Press US.
Ringleb, A.H., & Edwards, F. L. (2006). The legal environment of business (9th ed.). Mason, Ohio: Thomson.