Brief History of Intelligence

Product Description:
This compendium of over 500 entries on the most important and relevant personalities, programs, activities, and agencies of U.S. intelligence, beginning with the Sons of Liberty before the onset of the Revolutionary War until the most recent reorganization of the U.S. intelligence community, covers the myriad pieces of legislation that have governed the activities of U.S. intelligence. Each entry is cross-referenced for easy navigation and provides a definition as well as a brief but complete historical evaluation of the subject. This volume traces more than two centuries of history in the chronology. The introduction explains just what intelligence is and does, and shows how U.S. intelligence operations have evolved. Appendixes list Directors and Deputy Directors of Central Intelligence. The bibliography provides the most relevant and important sources for those interested in further reading.

Created in 1947, the Central Intelligence Agency plays an important part in the nation's intelligence activities, and is currently playing a vital role in the "war on terrorism." While the agency is often in the news and portrayed in television shows and films, it remains one of the most secretive and misunderstood organizations in the United States. This work provides an in-depth look into the Central Intelligence Agency and how its responsibilities affect American life. After a brief history of the agency, chapters describe its organization, intelligence/counterintelligence, covert operations, controversies, key events, and notable people.