Is Hollywood's Portrayal of the CIA Accurate?

[Hyperspace2]

Is it powerful as shown in hollywood movies like enemy of the state , bourne series and many more?

 

[Borek]

CIA in Hollywood movies has about as much to do with reality as Star Wars with Apollo missions.

 

[MarcoD]

If they do their work right, you'll never know.

 

[phinds]

Is it powerfull as shown in hollywood movies like enemy of the sate , bourne series and many more

No, absolutely not.

 

[wuliheron]

I'm a military brat and have known my share of spooks including my best friend's father. Hollywood exaggerates some things and down plays others. The CIA is just one of many intelligence agencies and they're actually more of the public face of the intelligence community then the covert ops division. Their specialty is organizing all the data collected and you can even visit their website which has one of the largest data bases in the world.

The real spooky characters are the NSA (affectionately called "No Such Agency") and whatever other organizations might exist that nobody knows about. They're set up at the pentagon where the lines between the military and intelligence community become blurred. The sheer size of all these combined assets is mind boggling and its difficult to underestimate their power.

To put this into perspective, the pentagon budget alone is equal to that of the entire government of most countries and the US military is equal to the next seven largest in the world combined. The old Soviet Union is estimated to have recruited one in twenty citizens to spy on each other. Talk about your inescapable inhumane bureaucratic machines! These are not people you can easily keep secrets from and they're not to be trifled with.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

They can't hold a candle to Mosad. Especially when both are in the same movie. On the other hand, you probably read it yourself in Computer Week before the KGB finds out about it. The Aruban spy agency is the best party agency for the 15th year running according to our staff. The Chinese spy agency is so good that no one even knows the name of it. You don't hear much about the Bora Bora spy agency but since they took UARS out, that may change.

 

[Mépris]

They can't hold a candle to Mosad. Especially when both are in the same movie. On the other hand, you probably read it yourself in Computer Week before the KGB finds out about it. The Aruban spy agency is the best party agency for the 15th year running according to our staff. The Chinese spy agency is so good that no one even knows the name of it. You don't hear much about the Bora Bora spy agency but since they took UARS out, that may change.

What about Absolut?

 

[Willowz]

Who guards the guardians?

 

[phinds]

The NSA is NOT set up at the Pentagon ... they have a huge complex out at Ft. Meade, Md.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

The real spooky characters are the NSA (affectionately called "No Such Agency") and whatever other organizations might exist that nobody knows about. They're set up at the pentagon where the lines between the military and intelligence community become blurred. The sheer size of all these combined assets is mind boggling and its difficult to underestimate their power...

These are not people you can easily keep secrets from and they're not to be trifled with.

When I first became interested in the UFO phenomena, it quickly became evident that the best source of information on this subject is the NSA. When the internet came along, as one might guess based on the links provided in S&D, I spent many, many, many hours going through the archives at the NSA and other security agencies. Not only are some of the most interesting and credible reports available at these sites, esp the NSA, but it is often fascinating reading and provides a unique perspective into the workings of the cold-war, military industrial complex. It also provides an interesting historical perspective on military technology. So the long and the short of it is that it became a hobby. I was logged onto government sites for hundreds of hours over a period of perhaps five years. I've always wondered how closely someone may have been looking at me. The NSA did finally admit that they were tracking people who visited their site, but I don't know how invasive this was.

Funny thing about the CIA; if you die in the line of duty, you get a star on a wall, but no names listed. Even in death there is no public recognition of the people who do this work.

 

[nsaspook]

Is it powerfull as shown in hollywood movies like enemy of the sate , bourne series and many more

As an instrument of force the CIA is a dud. Like a small dog with a loud bark.

The CEA, wow that's where the power is.

 

[flyingpig]

I actually thought FBi = CIA lol

 

[wuliheron]

The NSA is NOT set up at the Pentagon ... they have a huge complex out at Ft. Meade, Md.

That's their headquarters, on a military base, where they keep their super computer among other things. They also have facilities in Texas and Georgia. However, they were first conceived as a branch of the military and their role includes safeguarding all military and government communications. They were so secret at one time that it wasn't until twenty years after Truman created the organization that its existence became known to the public.

 

[phoenix:\\]

I would like to know how these people know the CIA is not as powerful as the Hollywood movies or even more powerful than the movies?

 

[Borek]

I would like to know how these people know the CIA is not as powerful as the Hollywood movies or even more powerful than the movies?

Look around, how can all these things happen if they are so powerful?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

What does powerful mean? What do they do in movies?

 

[Proton Soup]

I would like to know how these people know the CIA is not as powerful as the Hollywood movies or even more powerful than the movies?

let's see, you're in biochem? you have any opinion on the silly stuff you see in shows like CSI?

hollywood has its own set of magic physics, chemistry, etc.

 

[nsaspook]

CIA: State Dept: Diplomats, treaties and picking pretty flowers.
NSA: Defense Dept: Marines and blowing things up.

 

[Proton Soup]

CIA: State Dept: Diplomats, treaties and picking pretty flowers.
NSA: Defense Dept: Marines and blowing things up.

yes, that would certainly explain why NSA hires so many mathematicians

 

[phoenix:\\]

let's see, you're in biochem? you have any opinion on the silly stuff you see in shows like CSI?

hollywood has its own set of magic physics, chemistry, etc.

All I am saying is who knows what they are up to? To claim they are similar to some bargain bin agency where street-level cops could do the same job is a little bit absurd in my opinion. For them to even last, most common day people (we the people here) must be kept in* the dark of most activities and know little of what they are capable of in today's world. That is the reason why I am asking you how do you know they aren't as powerful?

 

[nsaspook]

yes, that would certainly explain why NSA hires so many mathematicians

Well, somebody has to design the big red button for the Marines to push.

 

[phoenix:\\]

You guys are nasty. Those mathematicians are marines first, mathematicians second. Obviously there is a lot more thought placed in today's marine than what you are used to seeing on some television show.

 

[wuliheron]

I would like to know how these people know the CIA is not as powerful as the Hollywood movies or even more powerful than the movies?

Because its Hollywood and they've even portrayed the CIA as defying the laws of physics.

 

[nsaspook]

You guys are nasty. Those mathematicians are marines first, mathematicians second. Obviously there is a lot more thought placed in today's marine than what you are used to seeing on some television show.

I'm not coming down on Marines or CIA. When something absolutely has to be destroyed overnight you send the Marines, when you want to take years, deal with corrupt officials, criminals, low-life and funnel money to your secret accounts, you use the CIA.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

You guys are nasty. Those mathematicians are marines first, mathematicians second. Obviously there is a lot more thought placed in today's marine than what you are used to seeing on some television show.

When I went to school in the early 70s, the NSA was recruiting civilian mathematicians. I went to a preliminary interview at that time. At the interview I was told that if I applied not only would my background be investigated, but also that of family members, friends, acquaintances, anyone I had ever met, and anyone I hadn't ever met. I didn't want to put others through it so I didn't apply.

 

[nsaspook]

When I went to school in the early 70s, the NSA was recruiting civilian mathematicians. I went to a preliminary interview at that time. At the interview I was told that if I applied not only would my background be investigated, but also that of family members, friends, acquaintances, anyone I had ever met, and anyone I hadn't ever met. I didn't want to put others through it so I didn't apply.

That the normal full scope background investigation that gets you in the front door. To enter the vault to get access to the crypt takes lshs9)&)*#)... no carrier...

 

[phoenix:\\]

Because its Hollywood and they've even portrayed the CIA as defying the laws of physics.

Plenty of things have defied the laws of gravity are you willing to label them nonexistent as well?

 

[DaveC426913]

Plenty of things have defied the laws of gravity are you willing to label them nonexistent as well?

phoenix, it is trivial to suppose that an organization is virtually unlimited in power, unfettered in reach and most of all flawless in their covertness about the first two.

We here on PF don't deal in idle speculation; we deal in falsifiables.

Unless you have some evidence they have some of these abilities, there's not really much to discuss.

 

[phoenix:\\]

Falsifiables require evidence of the false-hood of whatever is in question, and from what has been posted, not one person is mustering up evidence to back their statements. With that said, I agree.

 

[DaveC426913]

Falsifiables require evidence of the false-hood of whatever is in question, and from what has been posted, not one person is mustering up evidence to back their statements.

You totally don't get it.

The onus is on you in the first place to make a case that might need to be refuted. Until you do so, nobody here needs to make any statements at all, let alone back them up.

Now, make your case, and make it quickly, or this thread is going to be closed.

It may be too late already, since the case could be made that this thread does not meet the minimum requirements for posting. Threads have been closed for less.