Do the NSA have more government power over the FBI and CIA

Question

What exactly do the NSA do? I don't live in America, so I don't know much about it. All I know that they’re an agency working for the government.

Are they more powerful than the FBI and CIA in terms of nation security and would America be able to cope without the NSA?

Also, the 9/11 attack, what agency took over that whole ordeal?

Answer 1

If you are a Brit they are exactly the same as the Gov't Code and Cypher School.  They are the codebreakers and codemakers.  They are responsible for secure communications for all branches of the US gov't.  They have no law-enforcement role of their own-but do lend their technical expertise to national agencies like the FBI and CIA.

Hollywood, and I would hazard a guess this is where your question comes from, as usual doesn't understand its role.  Movies and books would have one believe they are a super-spy agency.  It's just not true-they are, well, geeks: mathematicians, wireless engineers, software people.  They have overseas assignments, but these are to support military bases and embassies with secure communications-NOT "spying".

Part of the reason 9/11 happened was no single organization like MI5 or the BND to run counter-intelligence and coordinate police.  The FBI is too much a law enforcement agency, and the CIA was basically enfeebled after the Gulf War.  The Department of Homeland Security is now the new structure supposedly coordinating efforts-though how effective it truly is is open to serious debate.

Answer 2

The NSA collects and analyzes intelligence. Mostly from radio, telephonic and other electronic means of communications. They are the U.S. equivalent of what the British did at Blexley Hall during World War Two and later.

They have no power over the two other agencies. Those agencies are more of operational agencies like Special Branch of Scotland Yard and MI-5. Because of the Church Amendment in Federal law, the CIA cannot run any domestic operations. However, the FBI does have domestic operations and also posts agents to our overseas embassies as well.

After the 9/11 attack it was primarily the NSA which produced the intelligence to pin down locations on Al Queda members and other vital aspects needed to launch offensive military operations in Afghanistan. Within Afghanistan it is was operation folks from the CIA who worked with various tribes to provide the foot soldiers needed to overthrow and defeat the Taliban regime.

Answer 3

If you're wondering about the National Security Agency, then don't forget about Majestic 12.

MJ-12 is a ULTRA TOP SECRET Research and Development, Intelligence Operation established by President Truman on September 24, 1947.

or these others:

* The Research and Development Board (R&DB)

* Air Force Research and Development (AFRD)

* The Office of Naval Research (ONR)

* CIA Office of Scientific Intelligence (CIA-OSI)

* NSA Office of Scientific Intelligence (NSA-OSI)