History of the DIA :: essays research papers fc

History of the defense team Intelligence AgencyIn the old age following World War II, there were many turf battles fought between the cognizance agencies of the United States. The Central Intelligence Agency, which was created in 1947 with the passing of the National surety Act, won the initial battles. This agency had won both legislative status and budget authority and was to make recommendations for coordinating intelligence boutivities and to correlate, evaluate, and disseminate intelligence (Laqueur, 17). The act was vague however, and the untested agency quickly moved to the role of producer of intelligence and quickly grew in size(Laqueur, 17). By 1953, while headed by Allen Dulles, the CIA reached its height of find out inside Washington. Dulles showed little interest in intelligence coordination, but was very close with chair Eisenhower and with his brother, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, he had great personal influence within the administration (Laqueur, 18). Unfortunately, Dulless final years as Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) were strife with controversy. likewise pessimistic intelligence estimates gave way to controversy concerning the missile gap between the USSR and America. Another intelligence disaster was the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. This operation further discredited the CIAs reputation and led to Dulless dismissal as DCI (Laqueur, 18).These intelligence failures caused President Eisenhower to be dissatisfied with the intelligence he was receiving from the community. A new solution was needed and Eisenhower moved to create a Joint Study Group to determine better ways of effectively organizing the nations armament intelligence activities (Raman). This group recommended the creation of a single source to manage and coordinate all intelligence expenditure, production, analysis, assessment and dissemination functions within the Department of Defense (DOD). This agency would be responsible to the Secretary of Defense, a nd meet the intelligence needs of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and military units fielded worldwide (Raman).Eisenhowers term as President ended before the groups recommendations could be implemented, however the banner was carried by the next administration. Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense under President John F. Kennedy, authentic the groups recommendation and created the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) (DNSA). McNamara had many reasons for accepting the groups recommendations. First among them was the differing assessments of the missile gap by each of the services intelligence agencies. Another reason was McNamaras cost-conscious attitude. He wanted to merge the intelligence directorates of the different services to avoid a multiplicity of intelligence agencies in the Pentagon (Raman).