Intelligence, and making sense of it

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): Prior to establishment of the DNI, the head of the Intelligence Community was the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) who concurrently served as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The 2004 Act established the DNI’s position as the designated leader of the United States Intelligence Community and prohibited the DNI from serving as the CIA Director or the head of any other Intelligence Community element at the same time. In addition, the law required the CIA Director to “report” his agency’s activities to the DNI. Prior to December 2004, the CIA was literally the central intelligence organisation for the US Government. Currently, the CIA answers directly to the DNI, although the CIA Director may brief the President directly.

Director of National Intelligence: This was the prominent change post-9/11, creating an office that has authority over the budgets and most assets of the 16 US spy agencies. The DNI serves as the principal adviser to the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters related to national security; serves as the head of the 16-member Intelligence Community; and oversees and directs the National Intelligence Program.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS): It was established by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to consolidate 22 US Executive branch Organisations related to “homeland security” (security effort by a government to protect a nation against perceived internal or external threat) into a single cabinet agency. However, much of the nation’s homeland security remains outside the DHS, for example the FBI and the CIA are not part of it.

The USA PATRIOT Act: Now commonly known as the PATRIOT Act, it is a controversial Act of Congress that President George W Bush signed into law on October 26, 2001. The contrived acronym stands for “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001”. The Act increases the ability of law-enforcement agencies to search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, financial and other records; eases restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the US; expands the Secretary of the Treasury’s authority to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities; and enhances the discretion of law enforcement and immigration authorities in detaining and deporting immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts. The Act also expands the definition of terrorism to include domestic terrorism, thus enlarging the number of activities to which the PATRIOT Act’s expanded law-enforcement powers can be applied.

The State Intelligence Fusion Centers: These are central locations at which local, state and federal officials work in close proximity to receive, integrate and analyse information and intelligence, which have become a major focus of Homeland Security programmes in several states. However, because standards for organisational design and operational methods are still emerging, the form and function of these centres vary from state to state.

Compiled by Pallavi Singh