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Return to Article: FBI, CIA remain worlds apart

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  A really interesting read. I have a masters in educational psychology and a background in linguistics with an emphasis on cross cultural communication at the doctoral level certainly can understand the Mars vs. Venus part of the article and think it can be applied to other situations. I am absolutely not any sort of expert in the area of intelligence but interestingly I wrote about a fictional Bureau of Investigation Synthesis (BIS) in my science fiction novel Half Square and brought up many of the issues in this article. The main goal of a novel is entertainment not edification but I like to do both when possible. Mostly I was looking at the problem of FBI vs. CIA cooperation from a communication point of view. I have lived abroad for about 13 years. I have spent ten of those years in Asia. I have learned the hard way humans have schema that shape how they perceive language to a much greater extent than people who stay in a consistent cultural environment realize.

  On a side note, my Asian experience makes me question the almost monomaniacal focus of US foreign policy on Middle East terrorists when, at least to me, the most relevant event of the early 21st century is the rise of Asia and the decline of the West. I wont mention any names but one nation in particular loves our current monomania since it leaves them free to fill in the power vacuum created throughout the rest of the globe and in Asia in particular.

  Hugh Fox Posted September 21, 2009 3:13 AM
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  CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX ATX12V / EPS12V 650W Power Supply. Hopstage situation FBI holding hostages, thats the communications I am receiving, dont know how much is rumor but rather be safe then sorry, Possible Cheshire county, might have already gotten word of this. there is much more Cadmium Sulfide is poisoning people, I am hostage of Brain washing, and identity theft, my children are missing communications outgoing and incoming stopped, Wastold an invvitation to become a Presidents men secret service was sent that I never recoved, I know nothing about anyone signing me up for anything but surely would love an invite, presntly the missing children story is first priority, identity theft, concerns me with the security of the country.

  Many rumors for many years of abuses, on these communications. Not sure what voice to listen to my concerns are hostages in Dublin is where I heard and Hollywood, west Hollywood. Not sure about Hollywood possible be to make me appear incompetant still news of missing kids and knowing my communications are blocked for a fact is concerning me, and other things such as rumors spread, employment opportunites blocked, equipment stolen someone using it to abuse me and family, etc.

  Thomas Lambert Posted February 23, 2008 4:33 PM
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  In discussing cooperation between the FBI and CIA, one issue that does not seem to receive any attention is intelligence oversight. The CIA works under very strict rules that do not allow intelligence collection in the United States. Part of the cultural divide between the agencies, the "turf" issue, is exacerbated by these rules. While these rules were instituted after a number of domestic collection incidents, they do affect the way the agencies share intelligence. While this article certainly covers many of the other issues, intelligence oversight rules are an important contextual point.

  Mark Perry Posted August 4, 2003 10:59 AM
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  This is an easy one. The FBI is an investigative organization that hires intelligent people to enforce the laws of the US. The CIA contrary to its name hires wacko people to wage undeclared war on foreign lands without direct involvement of the federal government. The CIA assinates leaders, forments unrest in various countries, spies on anyone thought to be a treat, and in fact actually institutes war actions - The CIA flew the unmanned vehicles in Afganistan that killed many. Also, the man killed in the jail riot was a CIA agent - why was he there to stir up the prisoners?

  The entire concept of the CIA is contrary to the American way while the FBI is to assure the American way. No wonder they cannopt cooperate - stay clean FBI!

  Tax Payer Posted August 4, 2003 7:06 AM
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  Good analysis. Every analogy limps, but the Mars/Venus model is useful.

  The article sees CIA culture as monolithic; a similar article could be written about the difference between DDI and DDO Officers. I served in the FBI during a time when it was unapologetically a domestic intelligence agency with the full support of the AG, the President, and (mostly) the Congress. I investigated the KKK and it was more important that I know in advance what was going to happen than that I get a conviction (major cases excepted).

  That ended with the Church and Pike Committees, after Watergate, when no one trusted anyone in government, and heavy restraints were added, layer after layer; the FBI needed a suspicion that a crime was about to be committed before it could open an investigation (a "case"). There were no more open-ended, movement/organization oriented investigations.

  There is another culture split, within the FBI, between Agents who work criminal cases and Agents who work "security" cases, and perhaps a subset now between CounterIntelligence and CounterTerrorism Agents. The author should keep on thinking about this topic. This is only the first layer of the onion.

  GovExec.com reader Posted August 2, 2003 1:00 AM