America’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was officially established through the National Security Act of 1947, but the concept of intelligence gathering had existed since the days of the Revolutionary War. The CIA is the successor to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which was created in 1942 to help organize espionage activities during World War II. The mission of the CIA is to collect bits of strategic information in order to protect the United States of America from foreign enemies. The intelligence is then given to the President and senior government policy makers. Along with CIA officials, they analyze it and make decisions based upon what they find, in order to protect the country from potential enemies and terrorist plots. The current Director of the CIA is Leon Edward Panetta, who was …show more content…
Although small steps were taken during the years of World War I through World War II, it wasn’t until 1947 that an official Central Intelligence Agency was established. The United States is a very different place because of its existence. First and most importantly, the agency saves American lives by protecting our nation from foreign terrorist threats. Without it, our country would be more vulnerable and an easier target for enemies to attack. It is also true that the CIA has engaged in some actions that have created a negative perception of our American government. President Obama has had the job of attempting to repair America’s reputation as a fair and non-discriminatory country. He summed up the issue perfectly when he remarked during a speech, “Today we are engaged in a deadly global struggle for those who would intimidate, torture, and murder people for exercising the most basic freedoms. If we are to win this struggle and spread those freedoms, we must keep our own moral compass pointed in a true