# So where does the CIA fit into the grand scheme of things right now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 10, 2001, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-does-the-cia-fit-into-the-grand-scheme-of-things-right-now/86548 "2001-10-10T10:03:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RocknRoll\_Killing\_Machine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5daacb/32.png) [@RocknRoll\_Killing\_Machine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RocknRoll_Killing_Machine)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-does-the-cia-fit-into-the-grand-scheme-of-things-right-now/86548/1 "2001-10-10T10:03:44Z")
Given the CIA’s past track record, I’d imagine that the CIA still has some dealings with revolutionaries and the like, and they must have _some_ agents in Afganistan. So what are they doing? It seems to me that if anyone could be in a position to find Bin Laden, it would be them. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-does-the-cia-fit-into-the-grand-scheme-of-things-right-now/86548/2 "2001-10-10T11:52:38Z")
If told you I would have to kill you… shhhhhh… ---
**Author:** ![arara123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@arara123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arara123)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-does-the-cia-fit-into-the-grand-scheme-of-things-right-now/86548/3 "2001-10-10T14:24:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SHAKES \* > \*\*If told you I would have to kill you… shhhhhh… \*\* OK, I can live with that.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-does-the-cia-fit-into-the-grand-scheme-of-things-right-now/86548/4 "2001-10-10T14:42:43Z")
The CIA’s past track record in Afghanistan was supporting what is now known as the Northern Alliance (these were the Mujaheddin fighters fighting the Soviet Union in the 80’s). The Northern Alliance has about 10-15% of the country under their control while the Taliban has the rest. The Northern Alliance, I think, is also still the recognized leadership of Afghanistan by the United Nations and most countries (and that was before the events of 9/11). I have no doubt the US has been picking the Northern Alliance brains for info but given that the Northern Alliance has been at war with the Taliban since the Taliban came to power I don’t think they have a whole lot to offer. Beyond that I can’t say I’m terribly impressed with the CIA. That organization seems to drop the ball constantly. In fairness we probably rarely know how much they do manage to do in our defense. Still, that’s not my fault and all I see are screw-ups, missed opportunities, scandals and the like. I’m not sure what they do at the CIA now when it seems the NSA does the lion’s share of intelligence gathering. Presumably the CIA runs agents for HUMINT which is important but that side of things has been dwindling for decades now. Perhaps recent events will kick them in the ass and get them moving on more in-field assets but such things take awhile to develop and probably won’t be much us in the near term war we are currently facing. ---
**Author:** ![puk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ea5d25/32.png) [@puk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puk)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-does-the-cia-fit-into-the-grand-scheme-of-things-right-now/86548/5 "2001-10-10T14:54:39Z")
Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. (it never is, is it?) First off, the SAS was reported to be in Afganistan prior to the UK/US bombings. They presumably did reconisance work. I think this is the closest they got to OBL in the past couple of years. It is very difficult to infiltrate organisations such as Al-Quaida. Members are usually recruited by invitation, and only people close to trusted members are invited. And even then, only a very small group ever has access to the ‘inner circle’. I believe that with the exeption of one or two people (who’s names I cannot recal) none of the hijackers spoke to OBL more than once or twice.