Question about army drill

[Rath Darkblade]

CAS? *looks it up* Ah -- Close Air Support, supporting the troops on the ground. That makes sense.

Yes, I'm thinking logically, because I've read too many stories in the history books about the disasters that can happen when the military branches don't cooperate. At first it seemed comic that people in positions of power would put their own ego before other people's lives, but then it seemed tragic, and eventually infuriating.

I'm not asking any branch of the military to commit part of their troops to another branch. I understand that would make them feel like part of their power is taken away. *shrug* I'm only asking that, in major operations, the USAF (or the Navy) inform the Army of what they're doing, to avoid unnecessary casualties. If the Air Force is planning to drop bombs on certain coordinates, it's vital that friendly ground forces should not be there. It's common sense, right?

Whether it's called "Friendly Fire", "Amicide", or "Blue on Blue", the problem is the same: ground troops are being killed by their own planes (or ships), and for no good reason. Even the term "Friendly Fire" is an oxymoron: as General Schwarzkopf was at pains to point out, a bullet that leaves the rifle's barrel, or a bomb that leaves a bomber, is never friendly.

As for the FBI and CIA not cooperating ... hmm. I understand that the FBI operates outside of the US and the CIA within it; but do their spheres of influence collide? For instance, is it possible for a terrorist group outside of the US to "plant" a "sleeper agent" inside the US, so that he might later commit mayhem as a "lone wolf"? Or does that sound like Hollywood? Yes, Hollywood's made movies like that; but IIRC, the Nazis did similar things in the 30s (and to a lesser extent, the early 40s). The Soviets were experts at this.

Anyway, if the FBI know that a certain group -- a terror group, the Soviets, whoever -- is planning this, but don't tell the CIA to watch out for these people ... why not? OK, maybe the FBI wants the "glory" of catching these people, and don't want to share that "glory". But still ... all right, yes, I'm thinking logically again.

[notbobsmith]

As for the FBI and CIA not cooperating ... hmm. I understand that the FBI operates outside of the US and the CIA within it; but do their spheres of influence collide? For instance, is it possible for a terrorist group outside of the US to "plant" a "sleeper agent" inside the US, so that he might later commit mayhem as a "lone wolf"? Or does that sound like Hollywood? Yes, Hollywood's made movies like that; but IIRC, the Nazis did similar things in the 30s (and to a lesser extent, the early 40s). The Soviets were experts at this.

Anyway, if the FBI know that a certain group -- a terror group, the Soviets, whoever -- is planning this, but don't tell the CIA to watch out for these people ... why not? OK, maybe the FBI wants the "glory" of catching these people, and don't want to share that "glory". But still ... all right, yes, I'm thinking logically again.

Actually it is the FBI that operates inside the US. They are law enforcement; essentially the police. The FBI will sometimes travel to other countries to conduct investigations or to assist other countries with crimes that affect the US (drug and weapon smuggling, money laundering, etc.). The CIA is intelligence. Much of the work they do is to assist the government against state actors (what country is building The Bomb, who is shipping weapons to whom, etc.). None of which are "crimes", but since 9/11, a lot of the work does involve domestic terror. Once something happens on US soil, everyone is bound by US law and only the FBI can act, because then it becomes a crime and they need things like search warrants and court-ordered wire taps. As for your example, in theory, the different agencies are supposed to communicate with one another. The FBI would give intelligence to the CIA so they can act in ways the FBI can't (outside the US of course). What probably happens more often is the CIA gains intelligence about something happening on US soil and passes it along to the FBI, because only they can act.

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm. Since the CIA works in intelligence (i.e. spying), wouldn't they also work in counter-intelligence (i.e. stopping spies)? Or is that the FBI's role?

[DeadPoolX]

Notbobsmith is right, the FBI operates within the US (think of them as the "national police") while the CIA conducts operations outside the US. Neither is allowed, without approval, to work outside their jurisdictions.

As for intelligence and counter-intelligence, yes, the CIA does that, but outside the US or when focusing on external threats (such as international terrorism or espionage). The FBI does the work inside the US, countering domestic terrorism and any other crime that comes under federal authority.

[Rath Darkblade]

OK. Thank you, Notbobsmith, DPX and Tawmis!