Three Different Perspectives of Intelligence Defining - Essay Example

Lowenthal manages to define intelligence in three different perspectives. 1The first definition of intelligence is as a process. According to this definition, Lowenthal denotes that intelligence is a means by which some types of information are needed, required, collected, thereafter they are analyzed, and finally they are disseminated. Lowenthal further defines intelligence as a knowledgeable product which arises from an analysis of various information, and intelligence operations2. An example of an intelligence product that falls under this definition includes the information under the possession of the US that Iran seeks to produce nuclear weapons. The third concept of intelligence is that of an organization, and it refers to various entities responsible for carrying out intelligence functions. For example, the organizations such as the CIA, of the US, Mossad of Israel, etc. qualify as entities responsible for gathering intelligence. It is important to denote that some people define intelligence, as information which is secret. However, this is not correct, because intelligence is a type of information which has been collected and processed for purposes of meeting the various needs of policy makers. It is important to denote that intelligence revolves around issues that concern with foreign policy, defense, and some areas of homeland security3. On this basis, the various policies, capabilities, and actions of rival or even friendly nations are a major concern to the policy makers and the intelligence community. The intelligence community also considers other areas such as terrorism, espionage, and subversion as issues that need intelligence collection. Intelligence can be carried out in political, social, military, environmental, cultural and health sectors of rival nations, or of a society. The process of intelligence consists of six major processes, namely, the requirements, collection, exploitation and processing, production and analysis, dissemination and consumption, and feedback4. Requirements: Under this process, intelligence officials will develop areas or issues that intelligence is supposed to create a contribution. Policy makers will have to decide on which area or issue is more important than the other. This is for purposes of enabling intelligence officials to place more time and energy in gathering information from the issues under consideration. This stage involves classification of different types of intelligence. It is important to denote that all policies have requirements for their intelligence. However, the capabilities and requirements of these policies are limited. On this basis, different intelligence requirements are placed as some having more attention, others having less attention, and others having no attention at all. However, it is important to ask ourselves who is responsible for setting the requirements, and priorities. The issues that emerge under this process are, who is responsible for setting requirements and priorities, and who is also responsible for conveying these priorities and requirements to the intelligence community5. Other issues that emerge are what would happen in case policy makers are unable to create priorities and requirements on their own. It is important to denote that on most occasions, the priorities and requirements are always set by the policy formulators, and this includes the president, and the cabinet secretary responsible for the issue under consideration. For example, when president Obama took over as the President of United States, his first instruction to the head of the CIA was to make it a priority for the capture or the killing of Osama Bin Laden. Collection Once policy formulators and intelligence officials have set up the priorities and requirements, then the intelligence under consideration goes to the collection stage. This stage involves analyzing the methods of collection to use, for purposes of meeting certain requirements or priorities. Methods of collecting information can include use of the internet, the social media, newspaper articles, books, journals, or through physical social networks. For purposes of implementing the president’s directive, the CIA was to use every method to their disposal for purposes of collecting information that could help in the capture of Osama Bin Laden6. This included use of drones, to collect information, news paper articles, interrogating captured terrorists, and even carrying out surveillance on suspected hide outs of the terrorist7. Processing and exploitation: Once information passes through the collection stage, it must go through another process referred to as processing and exploitation. This process involves converting a large amount of information and data for purposes of coming up with a reliable, consistent, and accurate information that satisfies the set up requirements and policies8. This process normally includes decryption, translation, and interpretation of data that is collected by intelligence officials. Analysis and Production: Identification of requirements, their collection, processing and exploitation are not useful if the intelligence under consideration is not given to an analyst who can therefore turn the information gathered to reports that satisfy the needs of the country’s policy makers9. The major issues that emerge under this stage are the nature of the information/intelligence, the quality of its production and analysis, the tension that exists between the current intelligence products, and future intelligence products. This stage involves the integration, analysis and evaluation of data that is available, and preparing various intelligence products in a manner that is timely, event-oriented, and single sourced. Dissemination and consumption: This process involves moving intelligence from the producers, to the consumers. Lowenthal argues that the consumption of intelligence by policy formulators is the most desirable, than just receiving intelligence under consideration. From his perspective, it is possible to receive intelligence without consuming it. This is because consuming intelligence involves carefully studying the information, and understanding its implications. Take for example the intelligence information that Iran is producing nuclear weapons. American policy holders have to analyze what would be the effect of a nuclear armed Iran, on American security interests, and that of its allies10. Consumption would involve deeply understanding the effects of Iran having a nuclear weapon which might include attacking American interests, and that of its allies. On this basis, there will be a need of developing a policy that will prevent Iran from acquiring such kind of weapons. Feedback: After receiving intelligence information, there is a need of dialogue between the recipients and intelligence officials. The recipients of the intelligence need to give information to intelligence officials on how the intelligence under consideration has managed to achieve their objectives and requirements. A discussion will further occur on areas that intelligence officials need to adjust and improve on. Intelligence is very important to policy makers, because it will help them acquire information that might play a great role in the formulation of policies11. For example, intelligence information concerning the production of nuclear weapons by Iran is a matter of concern for the United States, Israel, and the European Union because the weapons could be used to destroy a particular state. On this basis, policy makers will formulate a policy on how to prevent Iran from making such kind of a weapon. It is important to denote that intelligence has four major elements, namely collection, covert action, analysis, or counter-intelligence. Collection is the gathering of intelligence information through either espionage, or open sources which includes newspapers, magazines, internet, etc. Covert action on the other hand is an operation, which is planned and executed for purposes of influencing a social, economic, or political effect12. Covert operations normally have a military involvement or implication. Analysis on the other hand involves transferring the information collected, into a report that is useful to policy makers, and military leaders. In regard to analysis and covert action, analysis is the most important element. This is because analysis involves a careful consideration of the information under consideration, looking at him, and making some sense out of the information gathered by intelligence officers. On this basis, a covert operation can never happen before an analysis is done13. This is because a covert action is done for the aim of removing the threat or influencing a policy in favor of the country undertaking the intelligence exercise. Take for instance the covert operation referred to as the operation Mockingbird, which was an operation by the CIA to influence the media, in the beginnings of the 1950s14. This operation was initiated by the Federal government, after it became clear on how the media can help in turning the opinion of masses in support of government programs. For this operation to be approved there was enough intelligence that the media has the capability of influencing the American people.15 It is important to denote that there are some occasions when the value of intelligence is worth nothing. This occurs when the intelligence officials fail to meet the requirements of the intelligence products. This is by providing information that is inaccurate, and not reliable. For example, intelligence reports that accused Saddam Hussein of possessing weapons of mass destruction. These intelligence reports were inaccurate, and when the US invaded Iraq in 2003, the international community was unable to find any weapons of mass destruction. This war led to a massive loss of lives, and contributed partly to a decline in the American economy, because massive amounts of money were used to fund this war16. In conclusion, intelligence is a process used to collect, analyze, and disseminate information that is useful to policy makers. Intelligence is always collected by intelligence officials, who are trained on the various methods of collecting the information under consideration. Policy makers usually set the priorities and the requirements of the intelligence product, after which the intelligence community will analyze the requirements, and find better methods of collecting intelligence information to meet the requirements. Intelligence is never complete without the feedback process, where policy makers have a dialogue with intelligence officials on how to improve on the information presented. Bibliography: Altmann, Jörn. Advances in collective intelligence 2011. Berlin: Springer, 2012. Andrews, Linda Wasmer. Intelligence. New York: Franklin Watts, 2003. Bjelopera, Jerome P.. The domestic terrorist threat: background and issues for Congress. Washington, D.C.?: Congressional Research Service, 2012. Duncan, John. How intelligence happens. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2010. Lowenthal, Mark. Intelligence: from secrets to policy. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2012. Read More