Central Intelligence Agency

In the United States, the CIA is an independent body that gives security intelligence to senior policymakers, particularly information regarding threats to the U.S. having origins in nation states and foreign organizations. The information disclosed pertains to threats in the real world as well as in the virtual world, including information about cyber attacks and cyberterrorism. The CIA is supposed to cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security’s National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC). The Director of Central Intelligence serves as the principal advisor to the U.S. President and the National Security Council on foreign intelligence matters related to national security and is appointed on the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate.

Even the CIA can come under suspicion. For example, during the first six months of 2004, the CIA was placed under the microscope as the American people seriously questioned whether the CIA did all that it could have to thwart the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Much of the criticism focused not just on the CIA but also the lack of coordination among the disparate agencies assigned the critical task of securing the homeland. The CIA was accused of failing to penetrate militant groups such as al-Qaeda—a failure attributed to a shortage of language skills by CIA agents and a basic move away from so-called “human intelligence.” George Tenet quit his post as CIA chief in July 2004 and was replaced by U.S. Representative Porter Goss, R-FL, on August 10, 2004. Goss held the post for approximately 18 months and resigned on May 5, 2006. He was succeeded by United States Air Force General Michael Hayden, who received Senate confirmation on May 26, 2006.

See Also: Cyberterrorism; Department of Homeland Security (DHS); Goss, Porter; Intelligence; Security; U.S. Intelligence Community.