The Central Intelligence Agency was created in 1947 with the signing of the National Security Act by President Harry S. Truman. The CIA is an independent agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior US policymakers.The CIA is separated into five basic components: the Directorate of Operations, the Directorate of Analysis, the Directorate of Science & Technology, the Directorate of Support, and the Directorate of Digital Innovation. They carry out ???the intelligence cycle,??? the process of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence information to top US government officials.To accomplish its mission, the CIA engages in research, development, and deployment of high-leverage technology for intelligence purposes. As a separate agency, CIA serves as an independent source of analysis on topics of concern and also works closely with the other organizations in the Intelligence Community to ensure that the intelligence consumer???whether Washington policymaker or battlefield commander???receives the best intelligence possible.
The World Factbook
The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities. Our Reference tab includes: maps of the major world regions, as well as Flags of the World, a Physical Map of the World, a Political Map of the World, a World Oceans map, and a Standard Time Zones of the World map.
