# 13 intelligence agencies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 22, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/13-intelligence-agencies/120234 "2002-07-22T17:17:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/13-intelligence-agencies/120234/1 "2002-07-22T17:17:12Z")
A few months ago, I was hearing reports that the United States has 13 federal intelligence agencies 13? Let’s see – the Central Intelligence Agency the Defense Intelligence Agency the National Security Agency the Federal Bureau of Investigation the U.S. Secret Service What else? ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/13-intelligence-agencies/120234/2 "2002-07-22T17:19:47Z")
Here you go … the Director of Central Intelligence’s website, with the wheel of the 13 : [http://www.cia.gov/ic/icagen2.htm](http://www.cia.gov/ic/icagen2.htm) ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/13-intelligence-agencies/120234/3 "2002-07-22T20:33:09Z")
[Straight Dope Staff Report: What are the 13 U.S. intelligence agencies?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mspyagencies.html) ---
**Author:** ![brian\_lighthart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@brian\_lighthart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brian_lighthart)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/13-intelligence-agencies/120234/4 "2002-11-04T09:27:06Z")
Now we know, to quote the Staff report “…when they might repent this display of openness.” They might repent some time ago. The link in the report ([www.odci.gov/ic/icagen2.htm](http://www.odci.gov/ic/icagen2.htm)) is disfunctional. Also, panamajack’s link ([http://www.cia.gov/ic/icagen2.htm](http://www.cia.gov/ic/icagen2.htm)) does not bear fruit. Heres one I found 11/4/02 in the CIA site… Good old CIA. [http://www.intelligence.gov/1-members.shtml](http://www.intelligence.gov/1-members.shtml). Of course, all but the directly military efforts will now presumably be swallowed by the Office of Homeland Security. ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/13-intelligence-agencies/120234/5 "2002-11-04T13:54:44Z")
FWIW, from a warfighter’s (not military intel) angle, when we think of “intel,” I think we mostly think of CIA, NSA, and the closest military intel shop. For instance, all the unified combatant commanders, such as Central Command, have their own intel divisions. They pull some info from NSA/CIA and other sources, and also do their own collection and analyzing from a more tactical level (i.e., things closer to the fight than satellites). While they’re not agencies, they’re the bellybutton the military uses for intel. Generally speaking, when we talk about intel, we don’t talk about NIMA, NRO, FBI, DOT, or DOS. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/13-intelligence-agencies/120234/6 "2002-11-04T17:17:02Z")
The U.S. Intelligence Community is officially comprised of [fourteen](http://www.intelligence.gov/1-members.shtml) agencies: > [@](#): > > Central Intelligence Agency > Defense Intelligence Agency > National Security Agency > National Reconnaissance Office > National Imagery and Mapping Agency > Army Intelligence > Air Force Intelligence > Navy Intelligence > Marine Corps Intelligence > Department of State > Department of Treasury > Department of Energy > Federal Bureau of Investigation > United States Coast Guard ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/13-intelligence-agencies/120234/7 "2002-11-04T17:20:33Z")
And then I noticed that **brian lighthart** actually beat me to the link. Sorry. :o ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/13-intelligence-agencies/120234/8 "2002-11-04T17:46:49Z")
As I looked at the list, I thought “WTF?” about the Coast Guard. Then I realized that many security experts think that U.S. ports and arriving container ships may be the best way to unleash another terror attack, so I certainly hope the Coast Guard has some good people in “intel”.