The Comparison of the Humint Architecture of Australia and the United States - Term Paper Example

HUMINT ARCHITECTURE IN THE UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIA Student Name Instructor Date Introduction Human beings are considered as the most intelligent species in the world hence the concept of human intelligence. Human intelligence refers to the intellectual capabilities of individuals which are characterized by self -awareness, ability to understand various events as well as their surroundings, consciousness and preference. Human intelligence enables people to have cognitive abilities that help them in learning, understanding, the application of logic and reason, ability to comprehend ideas and solve problems as well as the use of language in communication. The increased sophistication of the world and the different technologies therein have led to several security threats such as terrorism. Such threats require active and efficient intelligence architecture to curb. For instance,terrorism is considered a major security threat to both the economically stale and unstable countries all over the world, thus the need of ways to protect population and property from such occurrences. Intelligence, therefore, plays a vital role in the collection of vital information that help countries in the prevention of terrorist attacks. For of this to be achieved, there is the need for the development of effective intelligence architecture. Intelligence architecture involves the carefully designed structures of intelligence within any country or organization that helps in dealing with both internal and external security threats. Therefore, Intelligence systems are fundamental part of the well- being of any enterprise or country. Intelligence systems have a range of advantages depending on their areas of application. In issues such as the national security, intelligence systems help in ensuring the safety of individuals and their property, thus enhancing national cohesion. Intelligence systems are also applicable in businesses where they enhance flow of critical information within the organizations, enabling organizations to have competitive advantage over the others hence increase market dominance. The main aim of this paper is to compare the human intelligence architecture between the United States and Australia. Discussion Human Intelligence (HUMINT) The primary source of human intelligence are the human beings. Human intelligence refers to the gathering of information from the human sources, mainly through personal contact. Human intelligence differs from the other ways of gathering information such as signal intelligence, electronic intelligence, and imagery intelligence since it involves the direct contact between the information gathered and the respondent. The information provided by the human intelligence systems varies from areas where subjects have vast knowledge to information gathered from the travelers and refugees. The main activities that are involved in human intelligence are interrogation and conversation with the subjects. Depending on the nature of the event being investigated, the information collectors can either interrogate the subjects or engage them in friendly discussions. Interrogations are commonly used for collection of information among subjects that are in custody. The kind of approach that the information collectors give the subjects is important since there are subjects that are never willing to leak information to the intelligence agencies. The major sources of human intelligence information are; non- governmental organizations, prisoners of war, military attaches, refugees, diplomatic reports and espionage clandestine reports (Department of the Army, 2006). Although several other methods of intelligence collection have also been invented with increased technological advancements such as SIGINT and IMINT, human intelligence is still widely used in many countries. One advantage of human intelligence over the technical intelligence is its capacity of providing the intentions of an attack. The technical intelligence methods are restricted to capabilities. Human intelligence is also important since in most cases it does not require technological production base for support. Human Intelligence in the United States The United States of America is a country in which human intelligence plays a vital role since it is one regions in the world under constant terrorism threats. Furthermore, the United States is also surveyed by many nations hence the need for a well -established human intelligence architecture to help in improving national security. In the United States for instance, the human intelligence provides an important channel for providing information about the terrorist organizations as well as preventing the occurrence of terrorist attacks. In the United States, there are various state organs perform human intelligence activities including the United States Military. In the United States, human intelligence information is mainly done using the military. The tasks performed include; exploitation of documents, media and other materials, conducting source operations, interrogation of detainees, gathering information from selected sources, liaising with the allied counterparts for vital information and questioning the United States and allied civilians (Jackson, 2009). Although the United States Military is heavily involved in human intelligence, the body that deals with the majority of human intelligence operations in the country is the Central Intelligence Agency. The primary ways of collecting information from the human sources that is used by both the CIA and the military are interrogation in cases where the subjects in question are in custody or conversation in a friendly way. The Central Intelligence Agency, which is the main body that deals with HUMINT in the United States is a foreign intelligence body of the United States with the main aim of collecting, analyzing and processing information concerning the national security of the country from all over the globe with human intelligence. The CIA is one of the important members of the United States Intelligence Community (IC), reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence and provides intelligence information for the president and the cabinet. The Central Intelligence Agency is the only government agency in the United States that is allowed by law to conduct foreign human intelligence on behalf of the government. The other members of the United States Community Intelligence are the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which is a national body that deals with the protection of the United States from vital threats while maintaining the civil liberties. The FBI performs the sole role of linking the local communities with the national security systems. The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Security Agency are also other important members of the American Intelligence Community. Human Intelligence in Australia Australia has a system of human intelligence that helps in the protection of the Australians both at home and abroad. In Australia, there are several agencies that provide intelligence information that is vital to the security of the country. The body that deals with human intelligence in Australia is the Australian Secret Intelligence Service. (Miller et al., 2011) The body mainly deals with foreign intelligence and helps Australia in prevention of terrorist attacks and other external crimes through the provision of intelligence information. The other intelligence bodies in Australia include the Australian Security intelligence Organization that is mandated with the role of protecting the Australians from home. The body collects information concerning the security threats to the nation from home. Furthermore, the Australian Department of Defense consists of agencies such as the Defense Intelligence Organization and the Defense Imagery and Geospatial Organization that also provide relevant information that can be used for national safety. Similarities between American and Australian Human Intelligence Architectures Australia and the United States of America have a wide range of similarities in the structures of intelligence. Among the similarities is the presence of bodies that oversee the human intelligence operations both within and outside the nations. In the United States of America, the body that deals with the human intelligence operations outside the nation is the CIA. This body provides the US government with intelligence information concerning the activities outside the United States that may threaten its security. Human intelligence information within the country is, however, provided by the FBI. Similarly, the Australian human intelligence architecture also has bodies that deal with the collection of vital information from the subjects believed to have the information. The Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), is a foreign intelligence body mandated with the provision of information that is seen as vital to the security of the country. These include information concerning terrorist attacks that may hurt the security of the country. Another body that deals with human intelligence in Australia is the Australian Security Investigation Organization (ASIO) with the main aim of providing protection to the Australian nationalities from home. Another important similarity in the HUMINT systems of both the United States of America and Australia is the use of conversation and interrogation in gathering information. Human intelligence involves the collection of information by means of personal contact with the subjects. The methods applied by the HUMINT structure in both the United States and Australia in the collection of information are interrogation and discussions. Generally, discussions are used in instances where the information gatherers intend to collect information in friendly ways. Interrogation, on the contrary, is used especially in cases where the subjects providing information about an issue have been detained. Human intelligence architecture in the United States and Australia are also similar in the vastness of the regions that they cover. By ensuring that the human intelligence operations of the two countries cover wide areas and different countries of the world, the sense of national security is increased as the countries are able to counter terrorist activities through human intelligence (Anderson, 2012). The CIA for instance, which has its presence all over the world, uses the allies in the foreign countries in the provision of information regarding the security of the United States. The ASIS has also expanded its human intelligence operations in the Middle East, Asia and Africa in attempting to collect as much information as possible regarding the national security. The human intelligence architecture cannot work efficiently without accountability and risk management. Both the intelligent structures in the United States and Australia, therefore, share a common ground in ensuring accountability and risk management. A central part of human intelligence operations in any country is the risk management. This is because the human intelligence operations involve a lot of risks, thus the need of ensuring the safety of the materials used as well as the information collectors. As an important way of ensuring effective risk management, the human intelligent structures in both countries strive to keep their operations secret. The recruitment of agents in both countries is rooted in the qualities of accountability. In both cases, the risk management framework is guided bb exterior oversight mechanisms as well as government consultations. Another important similarity between the human intelligence architecture of both the United States and Australia is the integration with military operations. In both countries, human intelligence serves as base for military operations (National Defense Intelligence College, 2007). Human intelligence has helped both countries in the prevention of terrorism despite numerous terrorist attacks that have been plotted against those countries. The intelligence organizations such as the CIA in the United States and the ASIS in Australia provide information for military operations both locally and in external operations. Another key feature of the intelligence architecture in both the United States and Australia is the timeliness of the systems in the delivery of information. In many instances, human intelligence is used in the collection of vital information that may alter the security of a nation if not communicated within the stipulated time. In both the intelligence structures of the United States and Australia, there is the cultivated virtue of timely delivery of information. This is important in helping the countries to counter the terrorist attacks and other security threats being plotted against those countries. Moreover, both the human intelligence architecture of the United States and Australia encourage the open sharing of information between the two countries. The countries have integrated their national security systems by allowing the sharing of human intelligence information across the two countries. Human intelligence information collected by Australia is shared with America and vice-versa. This way, the two countries are able to focus on common interests as well as aiding each other in countering terrorism. Differences between HUMINT Architecture in the United States and Australia Despite having a wide range of similarities, there are also numerous differences in the HUMINT architecture between the United States and Australia. In the United States of America. In the United States, the National Security Council (NSC) is mandated with overseeing and directing the activities of the CIA, which is the primary human intelligence government body. The National Security Council comprises of the president, the vice president, the secretary of State and the secretary of defense. The main functions of the National Security Council in the United States is to advise the president on matters relating to the national security as well as giving directions and overseeing the activities of the CIA. Although the Australian Secret Intelligence Service is mandated with the same duty as the CIA of the provision of foreign intelligence information that can affect the national security of Australia, its directives and operations are provided by the foreign affairs minister. In Australia, the collection of human intelligence information by the ASIS requires ministerial authorization. Another difference between the human intelligence architecture in the United States and Australia is the legislation. In Australia, the activities that are undertaken by the human intelligence bodies must be approved by the acts of parliament. This is due to the fact that the information gathered by the intelligence systems are important in the national security as well as decision making processes (Baylis et al., 2012). The information gathered by such agencies can also influence policy making. On the other side, the American legislation and the CIA work differently. The CIA works with committees such as the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. All these work together with other committees such as the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations and the Armed Services Committees work together with the CIA gathered intelligence in policy formulation. Another difference that occurs between the human intelligence architecture of the United States and Australia is the funding of the agencies. In Australia, the human intelligence agencies are funded directly by the state. In the United States, however, the funds that are used in the operations of the CIA and the other government activities are appropriated by special committees. For funds to be allocated to the CIA to perform human intelligence operations, the commitees must be consulted. Conclusion With regards to the above discussion, it is clear that the human intelligence forms an important part of national security. Information gathered through human intelligence is important in the prevention of occurrence of terrorism and other security threats that are likely to affect a country, hence the provision of security to the populations both locally and internationally. The advent of electronic intelligence collection such as the use of signals and the electronic media have brought a lot of challenges in the continued use of the human intelligence systems in the collection of data about security. It is, however, worth noting that most of the security risks that are faced by many countries do not involve the use of electronic media. It is, therefore, important for countries to increase human intelligence both in quality and quantity to improve their security. References Anderson, D. (2012). The Terrorism Acts in 2011: Report of the independent reviewer on the operation of The Terrorism Act 2000 and part 1 of The Terrorism Act 2006. London: TSO. Baylis, J., Wirtz, J. J., & Gray, C. S. (2012). Strategy in the contemporary world: An introduction to strategic studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Department of the Army (2006). Human Intelligence Collector Operations. Department Headquarters, Washington, DC. Jackson, B. A. (2009). Considering the creation of a domestic intelligence agency in the United States: Lessons from the experiences of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Santa Monica, CA: RAND. Miller, F. P, Vandome, A. F and McBrewster, J. (2011). Australian Intelligence Agencies. VDM Publishing. National Defense Intelligence College (2007). Improving the Law Enforcement-Intelligence Community Relationship. Washington, DC. NDRC Press. Read More