 |
Central Intelligence Agency
After the dismissal of OSS in 1945, Truman believed that peace was established properly. But after the beginning of The Cold War, he was made to correct this and founded the CIA. That was 1947. First DCI became Roscoe Hillenkoetter. During his time, the CIA prevented the communists in Italy to win the elections. They tried the same in CSR, but they failed. CSR had come under Russian influence for 40 years. Second DCI was Walter Bedel Smith (1949-53). They removed the premier Mohammed Mossadek because during his reign in 1953, Iran was in a crisis and the communists were about to seize power.The most known chief was A.Dulles (1953-61). In his time, CIA began huge operations. They supported anti communists in Guatemala, started operation "Gold" (Berlin-Moscow telephone bugging). Nevertheless, they were able to gain the script of Khrushchev's speech on the 20th Congress where Stalin's crimes were first openly presented. In 1956 the U-2 reconnaissance flight over Russia started. But they ended in 1960 with the shot down of G.Powers. The CIA could get over Vietnam, but Dulles resigned after the action in the Bay of Pigs. Plus, the real target, Fidel Castro, was revealed. J.McCone (1961-65) succeeded Dulles. The rockets in Cuba were discovered during his time. When J.F.Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, CIA came into bad light. The situation became worse after the assassination of Congo's premier P.Lulumba. That caused a communistic anti-US offensive. After McCone the flat William Raborn became DCI (1965-66).
R.Helms slowed down the computerization of The Firm and he came into several rows with the Senate. Watergate was a big strike, although later it was proven they resisted Nixon's influence.
J.Schlesinger took the place for some months in 1973. W.Colby (1973-76) replaced him soon. He had several problems in repair the public opinion of the CIA, which was shaken by the CIA's influence in foreign countries (supporting the right-wing and suppressing the left-wing), another Castro assassination attempt, the fall of the Chilean president Allende, breaking the border between FBI and CIA etc. He had to sack the paranoid contra espionage chief Angelton and had to define the targets of the CIA. But the opinion of the public had not changed, so Colby had to leave.
George Bush became DCI in 1976. He was replaced two years later by Stanfiled Turner. Turner was not an experienced chief and after lot of sacks the employees didn't like him. Even the relationships with the allies cooled off.
After W.Casey replaced Turner in 1981, the CIA gave up many of the old, dirty methods. But that caused a slight decline of the productivity. So he rerun the operations in Afghanistan and Central America and the workmen became more self-conscious. Casey had to resign due to health problems in 1987. He was succeeded by William Webster.
President Clinton named James Woosley the DCI on 1st March 1993. He was replaced by William Studeman in 1995. John M.Deutch followed in the same year. In 1996 George Tenet became the DCI.
The CIA is divided into 5 directorates:
1. DI (Directorate of Intelligence)
2. DO (Directorate of Operations)
3. DST (Directorate of Science and Technology)
4. DA (Directorate of Administration)
5. Directorate of planning
The Director of each directorate is called DDI, DDO, DDST and DDA. Today the CIA has over 22,000 employees. Main part of them working in the central in Langley, Virginia. The outposts are mainly placed at the embassies and have from one to hundred employees.
