Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
281 Articles

The Year of Section 702 Reform, Part II: Closing the Gaps and Completing the Modernization of FISA
There are gaps in FISA's coverage that collect American communications outside of any statutory framework and beyond the reach of courts.

The Year of Section 702 Reform, Part I: Backdoor Searches
Requiring a warrant for U.S. person queries honors the balance between security and liberty struck in the Fourth Amendment and ensures that Section 702 can’t be used to get around…

A Big Few Weeks for Guantanamo: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
"It’s been an uncharacteristically Guantanamo-news-filled few weeks – some good, some bad, some ugly. Here’s a quick rundown of recent developments."

Rep. Jordan’s Dangerous New Panel is Nothing Like the Church Committee
The 1970’s era probe of executive branch intelligence abuse was honest oversight that spurred improvements benefiting the American people.

Lessons from Petraeus’s Guilty Plea for Trump’s Classified Docs Investigation
In the retired general's case, the FBI executed a search warrant at his home and seized notebooks allegedly containing classified material.

US Democracy’s Survival Requires a More Powerful Response to January 6th
Team Trump's shocking efforts to manipulate government institutions to overturn the 2020 election results echo despots abroad.

Defectors Provide Immediate Gratification, But Spies Change History
The CIA’s Instagram post on how to make "secure virtual contact” shows the need for agents and their ability to provide ongoing intelligence.

Uncertain Future for the ICC’s Investigation into the CIA Torture Program
The ICC Office of the Prosecutor has "deprioritized" investigation of CIA torture in Afghanistan. But Julian Elderfield, a former attorney in the OTP, says the stated reasons for…

Reexamining the Fundamentals of the Drone Program After the Kabul Strike
"There are certainly unique circumstances to the Kabul strike, but if we miss the bigger lessons, we only invite further tragedy. "

Hidden Negligence: Aug. 29 Drone Strike is Just the Tip of the Iceberg
A deep analysis of the broader system in which the August 29 Kabul drone strike is situated, by top expert on civilian casualties and lead author of several Department of Defense…

The Overhyping of Over the Horizon
It might represent the only option for the US on terrorist threats from Afghanistan, but it will be brute, imperfect military force.

Paradigm Shift: The Consequences of Choosing a War Path, and Leaving It
We owe it to the next generation to grapple now with the consequences of remaining at war -- as well as the consequences of choosing not to be -- lest we find ourselves reflexively…