CIA Substations in Foreign Countries

[Ro_Laren]

I was watching a TV show and they had a scene at a CIA substation in Paris. The French Intelligence knew about this substation and didn’t seem to have a problem with it. So it made me wonder about CIA substations (note: not CIA safe houses). Do American allies not care if the CIA has a substation on their soil (just like they obviously allow U.S. Embassies and Consulates to be on their soil)? Or, is this just Hollywood? Are there any foreign intelligence substations on American soil?

 

[T'Girl]

As long as there is a on going exchange of information with the French (or whoever), likely no, there is no problem. The United States as assets and resources that the French could never hope to match (no offense to any French folk here), it's the reality of the real world.

 

[Knight Templar]

Despite Hollywood make believe and the cries of anti intelligence services fanatics, I've heard the vast majority of CIA overseas work is perfectly legal and for the most part, incredibly boring. Along the lines of collecting information from open sources and combining it into reports for Langely.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Do American allies not care if the CIA has a substation on their soil?

Well, it's not like we really have a choice on the matter, right?

It's pretty obvious that the CIA has stations all over the world: it would be embarrassingly stupid for them not to, don't you think? I fully expect them to conduct operations both in collaboration and behind the back of the local intelligence agencies (which obviously sucks, but hey that's the real world for you). For example, one of the most publicized operations in Italy is the Abu Omar case. Beside, having them is better than the alternative, i.e. not having a CIA station near when the authorities need it. As long as they don't create more troubles than they solve, I don't see any problem with them.

Are there any foreign intelligence substations on American soil?

Of course not.

 

[T'Girl]

It a given though, that all embassies and consulates are in part intelligence stations.

 

[Knight Templar]

Are there any foreign intelligence substations on American soil?

Yes.

It is called the United Nations. It is no secret that EVERY major nation as part of its UN delegation includes intelligence officers.

 

[captcalhoun]

the CIA has a station in every US embassy in the world. officers (not spies or agents) there will be covered with a diplomatic cover, like a trade attache or cultural attache.

officers in hostile nations such as, say Iran, who aren't on the embassy staff are illegals and don't have diplomatic cover. if a legal gets caught, they get made Persona Non Grata and kicked out. an illegal gets chucked in jail and tried for espionage, or traded for an agent of a foriegn power.

British Intelligence and French Intelligence and the Russians and Chinese all run similar systems.