Changes

Every U.S. president since [[George Washington]] has used covert action as a part of their broader foreign policy, whether [[Republican Party|Republican]] or [[Democratic Party|Democratic]], [[Liberalism|liberal]] or conservative.<ref>Daugherty (2004), p.23.</ref>  The majority of these covert action operations were successful.<ref name="Daugherty 2004, Preface XX">Daugherty (2004), Preface XX.</ref>  Most of the operations that were not successful were directed by the President over the objections of the CIA.<ref name="Daugherty 2004, Preface XX"/>  Some of the most controversial "covert action" programs, such as the [[Iran-Contra]] affair, were not primarily the work of the CIA.<ref>Daugherty (2004), p.30.</ref> Covert action programs are also much less expensive than overt political or military actions. [[The Pentagon]] commissioned a study to determine whether the CIA or the [[U.S. Department of Defense]] (DoD) should conduct covert action paramilitary operations. Their study determined that the CIA should maintain this capability and be the "sole government agency conducting covert action."  The DoD found that, even under U.S. law, it does not have the legal authority to conduct covert action, nor the operational agility to carry out these types of missions.<ref>Study Urges CIA Not To Cede Paramilitary Functions to Pentagon, Ann Scott Tyson, Washington Post Staff Writer, February 5, 2005; Page A08, https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A168-2005Feb4.htm</ref>  The operation in May 2011 that resulted in the death of [[Osama bin Laden]] was a covert action under the authority of the CIA.<ref name="washingtonpost1">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/osama_bin_laden_killed_in_cia_operation/2011/05/01/AFLiqoVF_gallery.html?wprss=rss_national-security |title=Osama bin Laden killed in CIA operation |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=May 19, 2011 |date=May 8, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Dilanian">{{cite news|last=Dilanian |first=Ken |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-osama-bin-laden-cia-20110502,0,6466214.story?track=rss |title=CIA led U.S. special forces mission against Osama bin Laden |work=Los Angeles Times  |date=May 2, 2011 |accessdate=May 19, 2011}}</ref>

Every U.S. president since [[George Washington]] has used covert action as a part of their broader foreign policy, whether [[Republican Party|Republican]] or [[Democratic Party|Democratic]], [[Liberalism|liberal]] or conservative.<ref>Daugherty (2004), p.23.</ref>  The majority of these covert action operations were successful.<ref name="Daugherty 2004, Preface XX">Daugherty (2004), Preface XX.</ref>  Most of the operations that were not successful were directed by the President over the objections of the CIA.<ref name="Daugherty 2004, Preface XX"/>  Some of the most controversial "covert action" programs, such as the [[Iran-Contra]] affair, were not primarily the work of the CIA.<ref>Daugherty (2004), p.30.</ref> Covert action programs are also much less expensive than overt political or military actions. [[The Pentagon]] commissioned a study to determine whether the CIA or the [[U.S. Department of Defense]] (DoD) should conduct covert action paramilitary operations. Their study determined that the CIA should maintain this capability and be the "sole government agency conducting covert action."  The DoD found that, even under U.S. law, it does not have the legal authority to conduct covert action, nor the operational agility to carry out these types of missions.<ref>Study Urges CIA Not To Cede Paramilitary Functions to Pentagon, Ann Scott Tyson, Washington Post Staff Writer, February 5, 2005; Page A08, https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A168-2005Feb4.htm</ref>  The operation in May 2011 that resulted in the death of [[Osama bin Laden]] was a covert action under the authority of the CIA.<ref name="washingtonpost1">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/osama_bin_laden_killed_in_cia_operation/2011/05/01/AFLiqoVF_gallery.html?wprss=rss_national-security |title=Osama bin Laden killed in CIA operation |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=May 19, 2011 |date=May 8, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Dilanian">{{cite news|last=Dilanian |first=Ken |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-osama-bin-laden-cia-20110502,0,6466214.story?track=rss |title=CIA led U.S. special forces mission against Osama bin Laden |work=Los Angeles Times  |date=May 2, 2011 |accessdate=May 19, 2011}}</ref>

===CIA established 1947===

===CIA established 1947===