Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

It should be noted especially clearly that the CIA is the only independent US intelligence agency[1][2], where others fall under the following:

* Defense Department

* Department of Energy

* Department of Homeland Security

* Justice Department

* State Department

* Treasury Department

Now, the above mentioned departments directly fall under the purview of the executive branch (through presidential appointment of directors, administrators, or secretaries) whereas independent agencies have a commission or a committee of some kind.

Whether or not this should concern you is up to you, and one thing to note is that the independent agency's commissions have longer appointment terms than the usual four-year presidential terms.

It should also be noted that the CIA is the go-to agency for clandestine operations that involve reconnaissance, espionage, or subversive operations -- both domestically and abroad.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_agencies_of_the_Uni...

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_intelligence_community#Membe...




No. The Central Intelligence Agency is not run by a commission. It is run by the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, who is directly appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the senate (50 USC § 403–4a(a)), as much a part of the executive branch as any department secretary, with no special term appointment.


Indeed, I stand corrected.


> It should also be noted that the CIA is the go-to agency for clandestine operations that involve reconnaissance, espionage, or subversive operations -- both domestically and abroad.

I thought the CIA had limits placed on what they could do within the US?


And the NSA is limited to not collecting details on Americans.


The NSA, unlike the CIA, does not have such legal restrictions.


Well I'm glad you cleared that up. Perhaps you could go to Washington and clear this whole thing up for everyone.


This is correct. The CIA cannot operate domestically, that's the FBI's job.


The CIA has no police authority domestically, but their reconnaissance and espionage duties have no such restrictions.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: