Capitalism’s International Army (Central Intelligence Agency or CIA nickname)

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is the successor to World War II’s Office of Strategic Services (OSS).  Some critics claim that the CIA mainly protects business interests. The CIA has been nicknamed “Capitalism’s International Army” since at least 1995.
 
The CIA has also been nicknamed “The Agency,” “Pickle Factory” (since at least 1965), “The Company” (since at least 1972), “Christians In Action” (since at least 1978), “Capitalism’s Invisible Army” (by R. Buckminster Fuller in 1981), “Cocaine Importing Agency” (since at least 1988), “Virginia Farm Boys” (after its headquarters in Langley, Virginia, as used in the 1996 film Mission: Impossible), “Certified Idiots of America” (since at least 1996), “Clowns In America” (since at least 2010), “Crooks In Action” (since at least 2010) and “Catholic Intelligence Agency” (since at least 2012).
     
   
Wikipedia: Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is one of the principal intelligence-gathering agencies of the United States federal government. The CIA’s headquarters is in Langley, Virginia, a few miles west of Washington, D.C. Its employees operate from U.S. embassies and many other locations around the world. The only independent U.S. intelligence agency, it reports to the Director of National Intelligence.
 
The CIA has three traditional principal activities, which are gathering information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals; analyzing that information, along with intelligence gathered by other U.S. intelligence agencies, in order to provide national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers; and, upon the request of the President of the United States, carrying out or overseeing covert activities and some tactical operations by its own employees, by members of the U.S. military, or by other partners. It can, for example, exert foreign political influence through its tactical divisions, such as the Special Activities Division.
 
Google Books
Against Empire
By Michael Parenti
San Francisco,CA: City Lights Books
1995
Pg. 106:
Some people quip that “CIA” stands for “Capitalism’s International Army.” Others say it stands for “Cocaine Import Agency.”
 
Google Books
Prevailing Winds Magazine
Issues 1-8
1995
Pg. 6:
Many people quip that “CIA” stands for “Capitalism’s International Army.” Others say it stands for “Cocaine Import Agency.”
   
The Harvard Crimson
October 12, 1996
CIA’s Main Purpose Is Enhancing Corporate Power
TO THE EDITORS
Along with noted author and political analyst Michael Parenti, I think a more appropriate term for the Central Intelligence Agency is Capitalism’s International Army or Cocaine Import Agency.
 
The CIA has been very successful at keeping the poor of other countries in line with death squads, torture and proxy armies and the poor of the United States under control with drugs. The main purpose of the CIA is not intelligence but protecting and enchancing corporate power and global capitalism.
(...)
-Gary Sudborough
 
Google Books
Democracy for the Few
By Michael Parenti
Boston, MA: Thomson-Wadsworth
2008
Pg. 150:
CIA: CAPITALISM’S INTERNATIONAL ARMY OR COCAINE IMPORT AGENCY?
   
Twitter
Tim h
‏@heerrroooo
CIA: Capitalism’s International Army or Cocaine Import Agency?
3:17 PM - 14 May 2013