Established in the aftermath of World War II, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has served as the United States' premier intelligence organization, playing a vital role in safeguarding national security and shaping global events. Its operations span the globe, with its influence reaching from the distant corners of foreign lands to the highest echelons of American government. Despite its central role in American and international history, the origins and evolution of the CIA remain unknown to many, shrouded in a cloak of secrecy and intrigue befitting a spy agency.