Which country has the best intelligence agency?

**Retmilleo909** · 01-12-07, 12:44 AM

Practically every country has an agency for gathering intelligence, but I've listed only 6 of the most popular ones.

America's CIA, The Central Intelligence Agency.
Britain's MI6, Military Intelligence 6.
France's DGSE, The General Directorate for External Security.
Germany's BND, The Federal Intelligence Service.
Israel's Mossad, The Institute for Intelligence and Special Tasks.
Russia's SVR, The Foreign Intelligence Service.

M-16 and Mossad are both good, but IMO, the CIA is head and shoulders over all IA's even though the media and politics has been a thorn in their side since 9/11/01.
It's anyone's guess as to which is the best, as intelligence is a highly classified and secretive subject and the public seldom, if ever, hears of what IA's have done to protect their country and others.

**Virginian** · 01-12-07, 09:44 AM

The overall best is always going to be the one with the most funding. It costs money to attract the top minds, get the best gadgets, pay informants and turncoats.

At the same time, Mossad is quite good at certain other things (target surveillance, assassinations, etc) due to their constant state of war and less stringent oversight/domestic concern.

**Jackalope** · 01-12-07, 10:13 AM

I would guess that Mossad is the best within Israel's border countries. I doubt they spend much time or effort looking at the rest of the world.

The CIA is probably the best on a global scale.

**Trojan 42** · 01-12-07, 11:32 AM

Unless you've worked for all of them, how would you know which is best? If we're just going to with our own country's, then MI5 & 6 would have to be in with a chance. They've been gathering intelligence against terrorists longer than most others.

**Virginian** · 01-12-07, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Trojan 42

Unless you've worked for all of them, how would you know which is best? If we're just going to with our own country's, then MI5 & 6 would have to be in with a chance. They've been gathering intelligence against terrorists longer than most others.

Like I said, whoever pours the most money into intel will end up with the best agency. That's just how it works. Cash rules the world.

**Trojan 42** · 01-12-07, 11:50 AM

You think? Money may tempt the wrong types to apply for the job. Motivation has to be a key consideration, so I'd probably vote Mossad.

**Virginian** · 01-12-07, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Trojan 42

You think? Money may tempt the wrong types to apply for the job. Motivation has to be a key consideration, so I'd probably vote Mossad.

Motivation is a great point. By money I just meant the ability to purchase spy planes, satellites, sophisticated surveillance networks, and even people in key positions to share information. Both the US and UK spend a whole lot of money on intelligence, but like you said, Mossad has necessity on their side.