From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering (known in the context as "intelligence") for purposes of national security and defense. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public sources. The assembly and propagation of this information is known as intelligence analysis.
Intelligence agencies can provide the following services for their national governments.
- provide analysis in areas relevant to national security;
- give early warning of impending crises;
- serve national and international crisis management by helping to discern the intentions of current or potential opponents;
- inform national defense planning and military operations;
- protect secrets, both of their own sources and activities, and those of other state agencies; and
- may act covertly to influence the outcome of events in favor of national interests
Intelligence agencies are also involved in defensive activities such as counter-espionage or counter-terrorism.
There is a distinction between "security intelligence" and "foreign intelligence". Security intelligence pertains to national security threats (e.g. terrorism, espionage). Foreign intelligence involves information collection relating to the political, or economic activities of foreign states.
Some agencies are accused of being involved in assassination, arms sales, coups d'état, and the placement of misinformation (propaganda) as well as other covert operations, in order to support their own or their governments' interests.
List of major intelligence agencies (by country)
Australia
Bangladesh
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
People's Republic of China
Chile
Colombia
- Agencia Central de Intelligencia (ACI) Central Intelligence Agency (of Colombia)
Cuba
Czech Republic
- Bezpečnostní informační služba (BIS) – Security Information Service
- Úřad pro zahraniční styky a informace (ÚZSI) – Office for Foreign Relations and Information
- Vojenské zpravodajství (VZ) – Military Intelligence
Denmark
Egypt
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
India
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Mexico
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Pakistan
Philippines
Poland
- Agencja Wywiadu (AW) – Foreign Intelligence Agency
- Agencja Bezpieczeństwa Wewnętrznego (ABW) – Internal Security Agency
- Służba Wywiadu Wojskowego (SWW) – Military Intelligence Service
- Służba Kontrwywiadu Wojskowego (SKW) – Military Counterintelligence Service
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
See also
Further reading
Books
- Encyclopedia of espionage, intelligence, and security, hrg. von K. Lee Lerner und Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, 3 Bände, Detroit [u.a.] : Gale [u.a.], 2004
- Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones, Cloak and Dollar: A History of American Secret Intelligence, Yale University Press, 2002
- Richard C. S. Trahair, Encyclopedia of Cold War espionage, spies, and secret operations, Westport, Conn. [u.a.] : Greenwood Press, 2004
- Amy B. Zegart, Flawed by design : the evolution of the CIA, JCS, and NSC, Stanford, Calif. : Stanford Univ. Press, 1999
Journals
- The Journal of Intelligence History
External links
Wikis
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