Servizio per le Informazioni e la Sicurezza Militare SISMI |
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The SISMI coat of arms
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Agency overview | |
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Formed | 24 October 1977 |
Preceding agency |
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Dissolved | 3 August 2007 |
Superseding agency | |
Jurisdiction | Government of Italy |
Minister responsible | |
Agency executive |
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Website | serviziinformazionesicurezza.gov.it |
Servizio per le Informazioni e la Sicurezza Militare (Military Intelligence and Security Service) was the military intelligence agency of Italy from 1977–2007.
With the reform of the Italian Intelligence Services approved on 1 August 2007, SISMI was replaced by Agenzia Informazioni e Sicurezza Esterna.
Since the end of World War II, Italian intelligence agencies have been reorganized many times (SIM 1900-49, SIFAR 1949-65, SIOS 1949-97, SID 1965-77, SISDE, SISMI, 1977–2007) in an attempt to increase their effectiveness and bring them more fully under civilian control.
The agency was established as part of a broader reform of the Italian intelligence community, which represented the latest in a long string of government attempts to effectively manage Italy's intelligence agencies.
The first director of the service was Giuseppe Santovito (1978–1981), succeeded by General Nino Lugaresi was SISMI's director from 1981 to 1984; he testified on Gladio. General Nicolò Pollari was SISMI's second-last director; he resigned on 20 November 2006 after being indicted in the Imam Rapito affair, so Prime Minister Romano Prodi replaced him with Admiral Bruno Branciforte.
Admiral Bruno Branciforte was SISMI's last director, in charge until 3 August 2007.
SISMI was responsible for intelligence and security activities involving the military defence of Italy and for the integrity of the Italian State.