Covert operation
A covert operation
is a military, intelli-
gence, or political activity carried out in such
a way that the identity of the sponsors of the
operation (the parties responsible for the ac-
tion) is concealed or kept secret. While the
operation may become known to the enemy
or the world, covert operations are intended
so that the parties responsible cannot be
traced, or at worst proven.
Under United States law, the Central In-
telligence Agency (CIA) is the sole agency
legally allowed to carry out Covert Action. [1]
The CIA’s authorities to conduct Covert Ac-
tion comes from the National Security Act of
1947. [2] President Reagan issued Executive
Order 12333 titled in 1984. This order
defined covert action as "special activities",
both political and military, that the US
Government could legally deny. The CIA was
also designated as the sole authority under
the 1991 Intelligence Authorization Act and
in Title 50 of the United States Code Section
413(e). [3] [4] The CIA must have a "Presiden-
tial Finding" issued by the President of the
United States in order to conduct these activ-
ities under the Hughes-Ryan amendment to
the 1991 Intelligence Authorization Act. [5]
These findings are then monitored by the
oversight committees in both the US Senate
and the House of Representatives. [6] As a
result of this framework, the CIA has the
most oversight of any other government
agency.
[7] The Special Activities Division
(SAD) is a division of the CIA’s National
Clandestine Service, responsible for Covert
Action and "Special Activities". These special
activities include covert political influence
and paramilitary operations. [8]
Law enforcement
Undercover operations (such as sting opera-
tions or
infiltration of organized crime
groups) are conducted by Law enforcement
agencies to deter and detect crime and to
gather information for future arrest and
prosecution.
Military intelligence and
foreign policy
Covert operations and clandestine operations
are distinct. The Department of Defense Dic-
tionary of Militar