Science, Technology and the CIA: From Satellites to Psychics

Science, Technology and the CIA: From Satellites to Psychics

Jeffrey T. Richelson, Editor

From The National Security Archive, George WashingtonUniversity.

"Mention of the Central Intelligence Agency generally elicits visions of espionage and covert action operations. It may also produce images of the multitude of finished intelligence products the agency turns out – from the tightly controlled President’s Daily Brief, available only to the president and a select circle of advisers, to a number of less restricted intelligence assessments. The CIA’s role in the application of science and technology to the art of intelligence is far less appreciated. Even an 800-page history of the agency, published in 1986, John Ranelagh’s The Agency: The Rise and Decline of the CIA, included only a few references to the CIA’s Directorate of Science and Technology. However, the exploitation of science and technology has been a significant element of the CIA’s activities, almost since its creation. In 1962, it resulted in the creation of the Deputy Directorate of Research, which was succeeded in 1963 by the Deputy Directorate for Science and Technology (renamed the Directorate of Science and Technology in 1965)...[read more]"

Link to electronic briefing book (outside THF network).


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The Pentagon's Spies: Defense HUMINT

Defense HUMINT: The Pentagon's Spies

From The National Security Archives, George Washington University.

"A key part of the Central Intelligence Agency’s mission, since its creation in 1947, has been the conduct of human intelligence operations – which have included the recruitment of foreign nationals to conduct espionage as well the debriefing of defectors and other individuals with access to information of value. The primary focus of such HUMINT operations has been strategic – the collection of information relevant to national policymakers.
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The documents that make up this briefing book provide a window into the creation, evolution and (in some cases) abolition of a number of military service/DoD human intelligence organizations, the product of their activities, and the controversies that have occurred over the last several decades."

Link to electronic briefing book (outside THF network).

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Intelligence analysis needs to look backwards before looking forward: Christopher Andrew

Intelligence analysis needs to look backwards before looking forward by Christopher Andrew

from History & Policy, a group that aims to demonstrate the relevance of history to contemporary policymaking

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FREE history presentations and resources produced by THF.

You can download podcasts to your mp4 player and/or mobile phone for free by visiting the THF Podcast Homepage or by subscribing to one of the RSS feeds below:

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