global financial crisis

At the height of the global financial crisis, world leaders braced for a trade war. Governments were desperate to save jobs and protect their industries from foreign competition.

They generally avoided protectionism, but there's a new danger. When finance ministers gather in Washington D.C. this week, they'll talk about how to avert a currency war.

The Central Intelligence Agency in recent years has taken on new assignments such as monitoring rogue regimes and tracking terrorists.

The agency has another mission: analyzing the global economy. Intelligence officials say the global financial crisis has emerged as the top U.S. security threat.

And to help figure it out, the CIA is recruiting Wall Street bankers.