Special Activities Division

Special Activities Division is a unit of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that conducts covert operations and special operations for the United States government. The division is responsible for planning and executing paramilitary operations, counterterrorism missions, and other high-risk activities in support of National Security Council objectives, often in collaboration with United States Special Operations Command and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The division's activities are typically classified, but its operations have been linked to various CIA operations, including those conducted in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, in conjunction with North Atlantic Treaty Organization and United Nations efforts.

● Overview

The Special Activities Division is a highly secretive unit within the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), with its existence and activities rarely acknowledged by the United States government. The division is believed to be composed of highly trained operatives, including former members of United States Army Special Forces, United States Navy SEALs, and other special operations forces, who have worked with British Special Air Service and Australian Special Air Service Regiment. Its primary function is to conduct covert operations and special operations in support of National Security Council objectives, often in collaboration with Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and United States Department of State. The division's activities are typically classified, but it is known to have been involved in various CIA operations, including those conducted in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Colombia, in conjunction with Organization of American States and European Union efforts.

● History

The Special Activities Division was established in the 1960s as a response to the growing threat of communism and the need for the United States government to conduct covert operations and special operations in support of its foreign policy objectives, including the Bay of Pigs Invasion and Cuban Missile Crisis. The division's early activities were focused on Latin America, where it worked to counter the spread of communism and support anti-communist movements, in collaboration with Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank. During the Vietnam War, the division was involved in various CIA operations, including the Phoenix Program and Operation Barrel Roll, in conjunction with South Vietnam and Thailand. In the 1980s, the division played a key role in the CIA's support for the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, working with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to counter the Soviet Union's occupation, as part of the Reagan Doctrine.

● Organization

The Special Activities Division is believed to be organized into several different branches, each with its own unique mission and responsibilities, including Counterterrorism Center and Special Operations Group. The division is headed by a senior CIA officer, who reports directly to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and works closely with National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The division's operatives are highly trained and experienced, with many having served in special operations forces or other intelligence agencies, such as MI6 and Mossad. The division is also believed to have a close relationship with other United States government agencies, including United States Special Operations Command and Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as international partners like Canadian Special Operations Forces Command and French Special Forces.

● Operations

The Special Activities Division conducts a wide range of operations, including covert operations, special operations, and counterterrorism missions, often in collaboration with North Atlantic Treaty Organization and United Nations. The division's operatives are trained to conduct high-risk activities, such as infiltration, exfiltration, and sabotage, in support of National Security Council objectives, and have worked with British Special Air Service and Australian Special Air Service Regiment. The division is also believed to be involved in the CIA's drone program, which has been used to conduct targeted killings and other covert operations in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia, as part of the War on Terror. The division's operations are typically classified, but its activities have been linked to various CIA operations, including those conducted in Iraq, Syria, and Libya, in conjunction with European Union and Arab League efforts.

● Notable Activities

The Special Activities Division has been involved in several notable activities, including the invasion of Grenada, the invasion of Panama, and the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021), working with United Nations and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The division was also involved in the CIA's support for the Contras in Nicaragua, and the CIA's efforts to overthrow the government of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, in collaboration with French Foreign Legion and British Special Air Service. In addition, the division has been linked to various CIA operations in Latin America, including the CIA's support for the military dictatorship in Chile, and the CIA's efforts to counter the spread of communism in Cuba, working with Organization of American States and Inter-American Development Bank.

● Controversies

The Special Activities Division has been involved in several controversies, including the Iran-Contra affair, the CIA's use of torture and enhanced interrogation techniques, and the CIA's role in the War on Terror, which has been criticized by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The division's activities have also been linked to various human rights abuses, including the killing of civilians and the torture of prisoners, in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo Bay detention center. The division's use of drones has also been criticized, with many arguing that it is a violation of international law and the Geneva Conventions, as stated by International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations General Assembly. The division's activities have been the subject of several congressional investigations, including those conducted by the Church Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which have worked with Federal Bureau of Investigation and National Security Agency.