15 Things You Didn't Know About the CIA

In 1949, the Central Intelligence Agency Act created the modern CIA, tasked with providing the president with the information he needs to keep the nation safe. But the CIA is much more than that. Here are 15 things you probably didn’t know about the CIA. 1. The CIA is young – relatively speaking. It was created in 1947, when Harry Truman was president. 2. The CIA is huge. It has more than 16,000 employees, and its budget is $15 billion. 3. The CIA is headquartered in Langley, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. 4. The CIA is divided into four main divisions: the National Clandestine Service, the Directorate of Intelligence, the Directorate of Science and Technology, and the Directorate of Support. 5. The National Clandestine Service is responsible for the CIA’s spies, who operate in both foreign countries and the United States. 6. The Directorate of Intelligence is responsible for analyzing the information that the CIA’s spies and other sources collect. 7. The Directorate of Science and Technology is responsible for the CIA’s use of technology, including its famous drone program.

1. The CIA is the world's largest consumer of cannabis. 2. The CIA has a "secret" budget that is hidden from Congress. 3. The CIA has been involved in numerous coups and regime change operations. 4. The CIA torture program was exposed by the Senate Intelligence Committee Report. 5. The CIA has its own private prison system.

1. The CIA is the world's largest consumer of cannabis.

The CIA is the world's largest consumer of cannabis. The agency annually spends $4,200 to purchase an undisclosed amount of the drug, which is used in "operational activities," according to USA Today. The CIA's use of cannabis dates back to the 1950s, when the agency began conducting research into the plant's potential use as a truth serum. While the CIA's research ultimately concluded that cannabis is not an effective truth serum, the agency has continued to use the drug for other purposes. In recent years, the CIA has been criticized for its use of so-called "enhanced interrogation techniques," which opponents say are tantamount to torture. Some of these techniques, such as sleep deprivation and waterboarding, have been known to cause paranoia and delusions - and it's possible that the CIA's use of cannabis is intended to mitigate the effects of these techniques. While the CIA's use of cannabis is not publicly known, it's possible that the agency uses the drug to help its agents cope with the stresses of their jobs. After all, the CIA is responsible for some of the most dangerous and sensitive missions in the world, and its employees often see and do things that most people could never even imagine. So, while the CIA's use of cannabis may not be widely known, it's likely that the agency has good reason for consuming the drug. After all, the CIA's job is to keep us safe - and sometimes, that might mean using cannabis to help its agents do their job.

2. The CIA has a "secret" budget that is hidden from Congress.

The CIA has a "secret" budget that is hidden from Congress. This budget is used to fund the CIA's clandestine operations and is not subject to the same scrutiny as the rest of the CIA's budget. This secret budget is believed to be in the billions of dollars. The CIA's secret budget is believed to be used to finance a variety of activities, including: -Covert operations: The CIA often carries out operations that are not authorized by the US government. These operations are typically highly secretive and sometimes involve working with unsavory characters. -Paramilitary operations: The CIA has its own paramilitary force, known as the Special Activities Division (SAD). The SAD is responsible for carrying out dangerous and sensitive missions, such as hostage rescues and direct action raids. -Intelligence gathering: The CIA is responsible for gathering intelligence on US enemies. This intelligence is used to help the US government make decisions about national security. -Counterterrorism: The CIA has a dedicated counterterrorism center that works to thwart terrorist attacks against the United States. -Cybersecurity: The CIA is also responsible for protecting US government computer networks from cyber attacks. The CIA's secret budget gives the agency a great deal of power and flexibility. Unfortunately, it also means that the CIA is not subject to the same level of accountability as other government agencies. This lack of accountability has led to some major scandals, such as the Iran-Contra affair and the use of torture during the Bush administration.

3. The CIA has been involved in numerous coups and regime change operations.

The CIA has been involved in numerous coups and regime change operations throughout its history. In many cases, these operations have been successful in overthrowing governments that the CIA deemed to be hostile to US interests. In other cases, the CIA's involvement has been less successful, and has resulted in instability and violence in the countries where the coups took place. One of the most famous examples of the CIA's involvement in a coup is the 1953 Iranian coup d'état. The CIA helped to orchestrate the overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, who had nationalized the country's oil industry. The CIA's operation was successful, and Mosaddegh was replaced by the more pro-Western Shah of Iran. Another well-known example of the CIA's involvement in a coup is the 1974 Chilean coup d'état. The CIA helped to overthrow Chilean President Salvador Allende, who was a socialist. The CIA's operation was successful, and Allende was replaced by the dictator Augusto Pinochet. The CIA has also been involved in coups in Guatemala, Congo, Iraq, and many other countries. In some cases, such as the 1953 Iranian coup, the CIA's involvement has been publicly acknowledged. In other cases, such as the 1974 Chilean coup, the CIA's involvement has been hidden for many years. There is much debate over whether the CIA's involvement in coups and regime change operations is justified. Some people argue that the CIA is necessary to protect US interests and to promote democracy around the world. Others argue that the CIA's involvement often makes things worse, and that the CIA should stay out of other countries' affairs.

4. The CIA torture program was exposed by the Senate Intelligence Committee Report.

In 2014, the Senate Intelligence Committee released a report detailing the CIA's use of torture during the War on Terror. The report found that the CIA had misled the public and Congress about the effectiveness of its torture program, and that the program was far more brutal than the agency had admitted. The report sparked a heated debate about the CIA's use of torture, with some arguing that it was a necessary evil in the fight against terrorism, and others arguing that it was a violation of human rights. The CIA's torture program was exposed by the Senate Intelligence Committee Report in 2014. The report found that the CIA had misled the public and Congress about the effectiveness of its torture program, and that the program was far more brutal than the agency had admitted. The report sparked a heated debate about the CIA's use of torture, with some arguing that it was a necessary evil in the fight against terrorism, and others arguing that it was a violation of human rights. The CIA's torture program continued to be a controversial topic in the years following the release of the Senate report, with many people calling for accountability for those responsible for the program.

5. The CIA has its own private prison system.

The CIA has its own prison system, which it uses to house detainees. The prison system is known as the "black site" program, and it is operated by the CIA's Counterterrorism Center. The black site program was first revealed to the public in 2005, when the Washington Post published a leaked transcript of a speech that then-CIA Director George Tenet gave to employees. In the speech, Tenet described the black sites as "a vital tool" in the war on terror. Since then, there have been multiple reports of abuses at black sites, including torture and extrajudicial killings. In 2014, the Senate Intelligence Committee released a report detailing some of the abuses that had occurred at black sites. Despite the revelations of abuse, the black site program continues to operate. The exact number of black sites is unknown, but it is believed that there are at least a dozen.

1. The CIA is short for the Central Intelligence Agency. 2. The CIA was founded in 1947. 3. The CIA is headquartered in Langley, Virginia. 4. The CIA is responsible for gathering and analyzing intelligence. 5. The CIA has a budget of $15 billion. 6. The CIA employs over 20,000 people. 7. The CIA is overseen by the Director of National Intelligence. 8. The CIA has a Museum. 9. The CIA publishes a variety of publications. 10. The CIA has a Center for the Study of Intelligence. 11. The CIA has a Twitter account. 12. The CIA has an Instagram account. 13. The CIA has a Facebook page. 14. The CIA has a YouTube channel. 15. The CIA has a website.