The best intelligence agency in the world?

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The discussion centers around opinions on the best intelligence agency in the world, with participants mentioning several prominent agencies including Mossad (Israel), CIA (U.S.), MI6 (UK), and the KGB (Russia). The NSA (National Security Agency) is highlighted for its significant budget, extensive use of supercomputers, and ability to operate under the radar, sparking debate about its capabilities compared to other agencies. Participants emphasize the distinction between intelligence gathering and covert operations, noting that while the NSA excels in data analysis and cryptography, agencies like Mossad are recognized for their active operations and global reach. The conversation also touches on the effectiveness of lesser-known agencies, with some suggesting that agencies like RAW (India) and others from Sweden may also be noteworthy. Overall, the thread reflects a mix of admiration and skepticism regarding the capabilities and visibility of various intelligence organizations.
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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".
 
  • #31


Vanadium 50 said:
Reading this, I think people would do well to distinguish between "intelligence gathering" and "covert operations".

To be fair there are covert and clandestine missions carried out for the purpose of gathering intel. Agencies like the CIA also put spys in place to gather and even illicit information that can not be procured electronically. The NSA, from what wiki says, use no undercover operatives or infiltration missions themselves. Likely they have the CIA do it for them.
 
  • #32


Clearly the only way to solve this is to simultaneously infiltrate all the possible options, and perhaps a dozen other national intelligence agencies for comparison, in order to determine which one is the best. Once we have all the data collected we can conclude that we're the best and the issue is solved
 

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