The best intelligence agency in the world?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on identifying the best intelligence agency in the world, with participants highlighting various agencies including Mossad (Israel), CIA (U.S.), MI6 (British), KGB (Russia), and NSA (U.S.). Key points include the NSA's significant budget for electricity, its employment of mathematicians, and its extensive supercomputer resources, which contribute to its covert operations. Participants also emphasize Mossad's active operational capabilities, including global assassinations, as a factor in its perceived superiority. The conversation underscores the distinction between intelligence gathering and covert operations, with a consensus that Mossad is often regarded as the most effective agency.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of intelligence agency functions and operations
  • Familiarity with global intelligence agencies such as Mossad, CIA, and NSA
  • Knowledge of covert operations versus intelligence gathering
  • Awareness of historical context regarding intelligence agency budgets and capabilities
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the operational methods of Mossad and its global impact
  • Explore the role of the NSA in supporting other intelligence agencies
  • Investigate the historical effectiveness of CIA covert operations
  • Learn about the differences between intelligence gathering and covert operations in national security
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for intelligence analysts, security professionals, and anyone interested in the comparative effectiveness of global intelligence agencies.

curiousguy79
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the best intelligence agency in the world??

WHich intelligence agency do you think is the best in the world? And why?

Mossad ( Israel )
CIA ( U.S )
MI6 ( British )
KGB KSB ( Russia )
 
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I could tell you, but if you asked me to substantiate my assertion, I'd have to kill you...and ummm, everyone else on the forum, err...I mean, the internet!
 
If they were doing their job well, we wouldn't know about it, would we?
 
Moonbear said:
If they were doing their job well, we wouldn't know about it, would we?
I was just making the same post.
 
Moonbear said:
If they were doing their job well, we wouldn't know about it, would we?

and if we did, we wouldn't live long to tell about.
 
NSA obviously since you didn't even think to put them on your list. They do a damn good job staying out of the media. I don't even want to know what the NSA is capable of, it would be way too frightening.

Get this, the NSA's budget for electricity alone is $31 million dollars making it the 2nd largest consumer of electricity in MD. It also employs the most mathematicians and also has the most supercomputers in the world. Its existence was not even acknowleged by the US govt. for years.
 
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gravenewworld said:
NSA obviously since you didn't even think to put them on your list. They do a damn good job staying out of the media. I don't even want to know what the NSA is capable of, it would be way too frightening.

Get this, the NSA's budget for electricity alone is $31 million dollars making it the 2nd largest consumer of electricity in MD. It also employs the most mathematicians and also has the most supercomputers in the world. Its existence was not even acknowleged by the US govt. for years.

Yeah, I bet they have LOTS of Super-Secret Secret Squirrels! :biggrin:

(waits to see who's old enough to get the reference)
 
ALRIGHT THIS HAS BEEN DRIVING ME INSANE EVER SINCE I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER AT PF. WHAT ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH IS YOUR AVATAR MB? To me It looks like a kitten holding a sniper rifle. Is that what it is a pic of? this has been driving me insane for years now cause I can never quite make out exactly what it is.
 
Moonbear said:
Yeah, I bet they have LOTS of Super-Secret Secret Squirrels! :biggrin:

(waits to see who's old enough to get the reference)
(does a bit of research)

Aha, I was right. I knew about him before "super-secret" was part of the title. :wink:
 
  • #10
Yes, it is a kitten with a sniper rifle, but that doesn't matter right now. What should be bothering you is WHY the kitten has the sniper rifle.
 
  • #11
He shouldn't be wondering why the kitten has a sniper rifle.

He should be wondering who it's pointed at.

Heh. Heh. Heh.
 
  • #12
gravenewworld said:
NSA obviously since you didn't even think to put them on your list. They do a damn good job staying out of the media. I don't even want to know what the NSA is capable of, it would be way too frightening.

Get this, the NSA's budget for electricity alone is $31 million dollars making it the 2nd largest consumer of electricity in MD. It also employs the most mathematicians and also has the most supercomputers in the world. Its existence was not even acknowleged by the US govt. for years.

a stargate. but you didnt hear it from me.
 
  • #13
gravenewworld said:
I don't even want to know what the NSA is capable of, it would be way too frightening.

Look everybody! An ostrich!
 
  • #14
There you go grave new world, a bigger version:
http://files.myopera.com/Fengjinlong/albums/58943/sniper-kitten.jpg
 
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  • #15
Nor have anyone yet mentioned Forsvarets Etterretningstjeneste..
 
  • #16
arildno said:
Nor have anyone yet mentioned Forsvarets Etterretningstjeneste..
That's because no one can pronounce it.
 
  • #17
Hurkyl said:
He shouldn't be wondering why the kitten has a sniper rifle.

He should be wondering who it's pointed at.

Heh. Heh. Heh.

Not who, what. If I remember correctly, it had to do with bluejays in the family apple orchard. Or something like that.
 
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  • #18
curiousguy79 said:
WHich intelligence agency do you think is the best in the world? And why?

Mossad ( Israel )
CIA ( U.S )
MI6 ( British )
KGB KSB ( Russia )

That's easy. The Campus (US). They uplink from all those agencies and more.
 
  • #19
Evo said:
That's because no one can pronounce it.

Okay, that one was a bit difficult, I grant you. Here's one that is much simpler:

Politiets Overvåkningstjeneste
 
  • #20
arildno said:
Okay, that one was a bit difficult, I grant you. Here's one that is much simpler:

Politiets Overvåkningstjeneste
:bugeye: Darn Norweeds.
 
  • #21
How about SÄPO, then? That's a Swedish agency..
 
  • #22
arildno said:
How about SÄPO, then? That's a Swedish agency..
Now that's more like it. :approve:
 
  • #23
gravenewworld said:
NSA obviously since you didn't even think to put them on your list. They do a damn good job staying out of the media. I don't even want to know what the NSA is capable of, it would be way too frightening.

Get this, the NSA's budget for electricity alone is $31 million dollars making it the 2nd largest consumer of electricity in MD. It also employs the most mathematicians and also has the most supercomputers in the world. Its existence was not even acknowleged by the US govt. for years.
In the '80s I worked for a company in MD with lots of ex-Navy personnel in very high positions. When I asked one of my co-workers what her husband did for a living, she said "numerical cryptology" and not a word more, nor did I bother (or need) to inquire further. :rolleyes:
 
  • #24
Hurkyl said:
(does a bit of research)

Aha, I was right. I knew about him before "super-secret" was part of the title. :wink:

:biggrin: Yep, he was just a Secret Squirrel, but then got a promotion to Super-Secret Secret Squirrel near the end of his career. :approve:

My sniper kitty used to just be hunting mice, but it seems Berkeman has caught him taking shots at the bluejays lately, and once in a while he gets a few good shots in on crackpots. :devil:
 
  • #25


For the record...
NSA merely provides "support" for CIA and other allied agencies.
Simply put, they crack codes which assist in various clandestine operations.
No real match for Mossad, CIA, SVR etc. in terms of absolute intelligence capabilities.
 
  • #26


arildno said:
How about SÄPO, then? That's a Swedish agency..

I am pretty sure SÄPO is considered to be one of the WORST intelligence agencies in the world (at least they were, maybe they have improved).
MUST (Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service) or FRA (Swedish National Defence Radio Establishment )would be better candidates since they -like NSA- somehow manage to stay out of the limelight.

But, on a more serious note, if the choice is between "conventional" agencies Mossad is -as far as I know- considered to be the best; not the least because they have agents that can blend in just about everywhere.
It is also one of very few agencies that actually carry out "active" operations (including assassinations) around the whole world, whether or not that is a good thing is of course another question.
 
  • #27


For those who weren't sure, he did list NSA in his OP, they just removed it
 
  • #28


curiousguy79 said:
WHich intelligence agency do you think is the best in the world? And why?

Mossad ( Israel )
CIA ( U.S )
MI6 ( British )
KGB KSB ( Russia )

none of this are best
RAW (india) is the supreme
 
  • #29


M2GH2 said:
For the record...
NSA merely provides "support" for CIA and other allied agencies.
Simply put, they crack codes which assist in various clandestine operations.
No real match for Mossad, CIA, SVR etc. in terms of absolute intelligence capabilities.
From what I understand they actually gather all types of information from several different sources, crack codes, and attempt to hack foreign networks. As far as intelligence gathering is concerned I would probably rate them rather highly. Despite watching the movie XXX I highly doubt they run any military type missions but military ops are not really intelligence missions so much anyway.
 
  • #30


Reading this, I think people would do well to distinguish between "intelligence gathering" and "covert operations".
 

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