National Security Agency

The National Security Agency (NSA) is an intelligence organization of the United States government, responsible for global monitoring, collection, and processing of information and data for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence purposes – a discipline known as signals intelligence (SIGINT). NSA is concurrently charged with protection of U.S. government communications and information systems against penetration and network warfare. Although many of NSA's programs rely on "passive" electronic collection, the agency is authorized to accomplish its mission through active clandestine means, among which are physically bugging electronic systems and allegedly engaging in sabotage through subversive software. Moreover, NSA maintains physical presence in a large number of countries across the globe, where its Special Collection Service (SCS) inserts eavesdropping devices in difficult-to-reach places. SCS collection tactics allegedly encompass "close surveillance, burglary, wiretapping, breaking and entering".

National Security Agency (Bahrain)

The National Security Agency or National Security Apparatus (Arabic: جهاز الأمن الوطني‎) is an investigating authority in Bahrain that is associated with but not formally part of the Ministry of the Interior. The NSA was formed after King Hamad issued Decree No. 14 of 2002 declaring it as the replacement of the General Directorate for State Security Investigations. The NSA was granted the power to make arrests by a 2008 Royal Decree, and lost this power in 2011, again by Royal Decree.

History

Before 2002, the NSA was organized as the 'General Directorate for State Security Investigations' (Arabic: الإدارة العامة لمباحث أمن الدولة‎), also known as 'Security and Intelligence Service'. It was headed by Ian Henderson from 1966 to 1998. After Henderson retired in 1998, the position was taken by Khalid bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, a nephew of the then-ruler Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

Adel Flaifel served in the organization until 2002.

Directors

The NSA director is appointed by the King, has cabinet rank, and is a member of the Supreme Defence Council along with the Minister of Interior. According to the BCHR and opposition, senior positions of the NSA are occupied by relatives of the King, the majority of the agency's employees are non-Bahraini citizens and, despite being a majority of Bahrain's population, Shi'ites make up only 4% of the NSA's employees.

National Security Agency (Montenegro)

The National Security Agency (Montenegrin: Agencija za Nacionalnu Bezbjednost; ANB) is the national security intelligence agency of Montenegro. Its headquarters are located in Podgorica.

ANB collects data and information on potential threats, plans or intentions of organizations, groups or individuals the activities of which are aimed against the territorial integrity, security and the established order guaranteed by the Constitution of Montenegro. Although it is recognized as a successor of SFR Yugoslavia's state security apparatus, the ANB in its current form was created on May 28, 2005 by a law which gave the ANB the powers which were previously held by Serbia and Montenegro's Ministry of Internal Affairs. Less than a year later, Montenegro declared independence after holding a referendum on May 21, 2006.

History

Much of the ANB's history is very contemporary due to the recent establishment of the current Montenegrin republic. Since its creation in 2005, it has been deeply involved in the area of illegal drug trade in the Balkans. In 2012, an anonymous person who claimed to be connected to the ANB told a journalist from Vijesti that ANB does not collect information from whistleblowers, but instead has agents planted among criminals, journalists, and political parties from the opposition.