Investigating the role of the CIA on U.S. foreign policy with an emphasis on the crisis of Iraq

Since the inception of CIA, it has carried out various operational functions called "secret operations" in addition to cognitive and supervisory functions, according to the policy maker's demand, which has failed in some and succeeded in others. In addition to its impact on the political and economic conditions of foreign countries, it has also affected military conditions; in the wars, they run operations that can be categorized as CIA executive functions, since they usually remain hidden until the disclosure of the mission and, until it is exposed, it has hit the enemy effectively. The present study seeks to assess the CIA's role in the American war against Iraq, which has been ranked in three strategic, operational, and tactical levels. This descriptive and analytical study shows that the CIA has had a significant executive role in addition to its cognitive role in Iraq; although the failure of the United States in Iraq has affected its executive role, the organization has been working hard on the operation of Iraqi Freedom, facilitating operations and reducing casualties; The psychological warfare before, during and after the war, the presence of operational teams in the Kurdistan of Iraq and Jordan’s border, the establishment of oil wells before and during operations can be named the most prominent ones. This research shows how the intelligence agencies can use their capabilities to successfully achieve the war objectives and reduce the cost and casualties.