Department of Defense VS. Central Intelligence Agency

The countless untold bureaucractic stories behind the capture of terrorists like Abu Faraj al-Libbi on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 is the divergence between the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency over high value targets. The Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency each have their own high value targets. Even so, the Special Operations Command was designated as the supported commander in the War on Terrorism. While Special Operations Command has representatives from the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation at headquarters and during certain operations, this does not mean that Special Operations Command is in charge of the Central Intelligence Agency representatives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation representatives even when the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are planning or are conducting similar operations. Both the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, while sharing information and trying to coordinate operations continue to pursue independent operations to locate, to apprehend, and to kill terrorists. Another concern is whether or not United States military intelligence operatives under Special Operations Command authority can conduct reconnaissance and intelligence operations in a foreign country without the permission and knowledge of the United States Ambassador of that foreign country and the Central Intelligence Agency Chief of Station of that foreign country. Traditionally, United States military intelligence operatives are required to have permission before conducting operations.