Analysis of the Evolution of Strategic Intelligence Beginning in WWII - Essay Example

Strategic intelligence involves acquiring information about military strategy and operation plans at the national level. In strategy intelligence, more focus is shifted on factors such as the geography of foreign countries, long-term future planning trends, and tactics. According to the DIA, strategic intelligence is a crucial implement in anticipation of future threats globally (Andrew 45). World War II made America realize the need for military intelligence, particularly in terms of strategy.

According to the Defense Intelligence Strategy (DIA), the Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese came as a huge surprise to the U.S presumably as a result of the inability or total failure of the government to predict the attack (Defense Intelligence Agency). This is considered as one of the most noteworthy intelligence letdowns that subsequently led to the evolution of strategic intelligence. In the awakening of the Second World War, Andrew points out that the U.S. faced what he termed as a revolution in intelligence.

In his opinion, both former presidents Truman and Roosevelt were incapable of grasping the full repercussions of the revolution. Roosevelt was, however, interested in human intelligence that was more spy-based instead of signal intelligence such as radio transmitters (Defense Intelligence Agency). . to an American and British Treaty that saw to the authorization and subsequent commencement of the development of the covert operations that were to gather relevant military information (Andrew). This also set up the foundation for the formation of government intelligence units such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as well as the National Intelligence Agency (NSA).

This was further augmented by Eisenhower who greatly contributed to the development of strategic intelligence especially imagery satellites in an era where space explorations had not been launched. To do this, through the CIA Eisenhower deployed U-2 panes that surveyed the U.S. borders as well as some parts of the enemies’ territories (Prouty and Ventura 42). According to Prouty and Ventura, these steps marked a significant evolution of intelligence as the CIA started to invade areas that it was familiar with and in which it could establish its operations without being seen or observed by other parties within the U.S. government as well as other enemies.

Prouty and Ventura describe the CIA’s activities as a water spillage that spread quite fast. By the late forties, the U.S. Air Intelligence Force was established by General Vandenberg that consisted of several units that were well equipped with military weaponry ranging from flight machinery to printing correspondents and leaflets distribution units. Upon their establishment, they were taken through a rigorous training exercise, before being deployed to various parts of the world such as Japan. Some aspects of these units were greatly incorporated in the Korean War with some of the specialized sections made to work with the CIA in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe as well (Johnson 163).