Washington, D.C.
A new foreign intelligence arm of the Pentagon has taken over some of the CIA’s traditional responsibilities, The Washington Post reported this week. The spy network, known as the Strategic Support Branch, was quietly established two years ago, after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld resolved to end his “near total dependence on the CIA.” The Strategic Support Branch sends its own analysts and interrogators to accompany commandos operating in hot spots in the war on terrorism. “This is really a giant turf battle,” said Walter Lang, a retired Defense intelligence official.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
‘The worry is far from fanciful’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
How are Americans bracing for the end of SNAP?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Millions depend on supplemental federal food funds that are set to expire this month, as the government shutdown begins to be acutely felt
-
Book review: ‘Joyride: A Memoir’Feature A journalist’s story of how she chased and accomplished her dreams
