Human Intelligence (HUMINT) is as old as humanity, and to this day is one of, if not the best method of collecting information, because of the potential quantity and diversity of information that can be collected through this discipline. It is a method to gather information through interpersonal relations. In this assignment I will explain the difference between overt and clandestine HUMINT operations, present which Intelligence Community members use HUMINT and describe their principal methods. Lastly, I will offer my opinion as to whether I believe overt or clandestine HUMINT is more effective.
The most important difference between overt and clandestine HUMINT operations is legality: most countries consider intelligence collection by foreign agents a crime, therefore, if an agent attempts a clandestine collection or recruitment, and is caught attempting to gather information he or she is not entitled to, deportation, imprisonment, or worse may ensue. On the other hand, overt HUMINT collection is absolutely legal: this collection is based mostly on open source intelligence (OSINT) and can be described as the capacity of gathering, classifying, elaborating, categorizing and making sense of the massive amounts of data that is, theoretically, available to all. Two other important differences between overt and clandestine HUMINT collection operations are official protocol and the nature of the information required. Official protocol can dictate whether a collection operation needs to be clandestine or not: for example, let’s say that Italy, a country friendly to the U.S. is going to hold talks with Libyan officials over a deal to sell military hardware to the latter: official protocol may order our collectors to only use clande...
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... linguistic and physical differences between our personnel and theirs sources (i.e. Iran, North Korea, China, etc.). This is why I believe that overt HUMINT collection is where our focus should be: the legality and relative ease of acquiring open source intelligence can give us a vast array of indicators that can be converted into complete information with significant intelligence value. It is the result of overt collection that constitutes the context that should lead to consideration for clandestine operations. One of the IC’s biggest challenges is eliminating our government’s Cold War mentality: I worry that the U.S. still spends way too much on ineffective clandestine programs when it would be better served by investing those funds in more analysts and analysis instruments to improve the noesis of vast amounts information obtainable through overt collection.
To better understand the topic at hand it is important to understand what electronic surveillance is pertaining to Foreign Intelligence. The definition of “electronic surveillance”, as written is FISA, can be summarized best as acquisition of data from wire or radio communications using “an electronic, mechanical, or other surveillance device”. There are four specific criteria that further define electronic surveillance in more detail also included in FISA under Title 1, Section 101. This section also included definitions for those groups that surveillance may be authorized against. [2]
For the American intelligence community, George Washington is considered the father of intelligence. The introduction of the intelligence concept and its application in some missions during the early days of America helped America’s Founding Fathers to succeed against t...
Twenty- first century American intelligence is worlds away from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Not only is intelligence now a multi-agency effort, but the way in which intelligence is collected reflects the products of a technologically advanced society. Early espionage was reliant on human intelligence officers, and for the most part, that was the extent of the intelligence resources. Today, the intelligence collection toolbox is comprised of humans, plus drones, satellites, wiretaps, and other technological innovations. With the introduction of new ways of spying, some experts say that human intelligence (HUMINT) is outdated and is not an effective use of the intelligence community’s time or money due
Reviewing the experiments five years later, one secrecy-conscious CIA auditor wrote: “Precautions must be taken not only to protect operations from exposure to enemy forces but also to conceal these activities from the American public in general. The knowledge that the agency is engaging in unethical and illicit activities would have serious repercussions in political and diplomatic circles.” Though many of the documents related to MKULTRA were destroyed by the CIA in 1972, some records relating to the program have made it into the public domain. And the work of historians, investigative reporters, and various congressional committees has resulted in the release of enough information to make MKULTRA one of the most disturbing instances of intelligence community abuse on record. As writer Mark Zepezauer puts it, “the surviving history is nasty enough.”
Traditional theories of intelligence do not account for the ambiguity of classes such as philosophy or for the wide range of interests a child can have. For example, contemporary theories such as Sternberg’s Theory of Intelligence and Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences both account for more than the general intelligence accounted for in traditional intelligence theories. According to Robert Sternberg’s Successful (Triarchic) Theory of Intelligence, are Hector’s difficulties in philosophy indicative of future difficulties in the business world? According to Sternberg’s Theory of Intelligence, Hector’s difficulty in philosophy will not negatively affect his future. Sternberg would instead focus on elements of successful intelligence like Hector’s involvement and contribution as an individual, as opposed to relying on intelligence measured by tests.
In “Spies: the Rise and fall of the KGB in America”, John Earl Haynes, Harvey Klehr, and Alexander Vassiliev base their information off of a collection of documents that belonged to the KGB. The archives provide the most complete report of Soviet espionage in America ever written. Along with a general look into espionage strategies and the motives of Americans who spied for Stalin, this book settles specific controversies. “Spies: the Rise and Fall of the KGB in America” reveals numerous American spies who were never even under suspicion and also identifies the last unaccounted for nuclear spies who were American. This source focused greatly on Soviet infiltration of the U.S. government, and Haynes, Harvey, and Vassiliev convey why and how penetration contributed to the success and failure of the KGB throughout the Cold War.
Nedzi (D-Mich.), Luclen N. “Oversight or Overlook: Congress and the US Intelligence Agency.” A Congressman talk to the CIA senior seminar, November 14, 1979, https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/kent-csi/vol18no2/pdf/v18i2a02p.pdf (accessed January 7, 2014).
Intelligence tests have been developed by scientists as a tool to categorize army recruits or analyze school children. But still discussing what intelligence is, academics have a difficult time defining what intelligence tests should measure. According to the American researcher Thorndike, intelligence is only that what intelligence tests claim it is (Comer, Gould, & Furnham, 2013). Thus, depending on what is being researched in the test and depending on the scientist’s definition of intelligence the meaning of the word intelligence may vary a lot. This essay will discuss what intelligence is in order to be able to understand the intelligence theories and aims of intelligence tests.
Homeland security entities are proactive in the fight against terrorism on American soil. Their mandate is to collect information relating to potential attacks and analyze it to find a solution to the danger. With this in mind, these entities employ numerous spying techniques to collect intelligence for safeguarding of the nation. Homeland security entities have spies in almost all the countries in the world, especially those that show aggression towards America. The main aim of these spies is to carry out espionage to determine threat levels and find ways of neutralizing threats (Randol, 2009). This involves deployment of secret agents to areas or countries that exhibit terrorism activity in a bid to collect information. The spies interact with local people and members of terrorist groups using aliases that enable them conceal their identities.
Since, as he establishes, leadership’s political priorities were critical to the ultimate decision in the CIA’s actions, the degree to which the CIA actually concentrated on this mission of collection and analysis depended on the perceived threats from the top. Consequently, the actual level of reliable analysis deteriorated as demonstrated by the example of ORE analysists who were “normatively risk averse” and trying to “get it right,” and provide analysis that fit into the view of their leadership. Lacking trust in their analysists’ conclusions, the CIA proved unable to supply reliable intelligence and forge “collaboration and integration.” Rather than addressing institutional problems the CIA developed a pattern that continued throughout its entire history. Even though it refers to the Reagan era, Immerman’s conclusion that in a time of crisis the CIA deemed that they “required a change in leadership more than an institutional adjustment,” could easily apply to any other period. This application of psychology to history while enlightening does detract from the reader’s understanding of a formation of a CIA “culture” that limited its intelligence analysis efficiency. Without this fundamental comprehension of a CIA “culture,” some of Immerman’s later
Tidd, J. M. (2008). From revolution to reform: A brief history of U.S. intelligence. The SAIS
The CI has been a means to determine the presence of espionage by citizens of domestic as well as foreign countries. Whether the citizens are private or military has been rendered as immaterial for purposes specific to CI. The implementation of counterintelligence by either by acts of espionage from a citizen source acting on their own or via a government entity can either hurt or help a foreign country or a private citizen. Espionage by a government entity on another government entity via the infiltration of an agent network will likely be of benefit to the underlying national population and in contrast, should CI fall into the wrong hands, may be of potential danger to a underlying national population as well.
The Central Intelligence Agency’s main responsibility is stated in its Vision statement: “We will provide knowledge and take action to ensure the national security of the United States and the preservation of American life and ideals” (www.cia.gov). The CIA’s job is to provide pertinent, timely, and un-biased foreign intelligence. They also act as an unseen force by conducting undercover action as ordered by the President in order to preempt threats or achieve objectives of the United States. The CIA is the only intelligence organization that is not subject to cabinet prerogative, making it reliable in it is unbiased in its reports, because it has no political agenda. There are six main types of intelligence by which the CIA collects information. Human intelligence (HUMINT) is information gathered by field operatives through overt and covert techniques (www.cia.gov). Communications intelligence (COMINT) is acquired from intercepted foreign communications (www.cia.go...
In the United States the CIA or the Central Intelligence Agency is the main agency for gathering secret information and responsible for operations outside the United States. The FBI or Federal Bureau of Investigation has the primary responsibility for counterespionage activities within the United States. Counterespionage is when a country or an organization captures a hostile spy and turns them into a so-called “double agent” who sends false information to their own organization. It prevents other nations from gaining such information. Under international law, these activities are not illegal, but individual nations have laws against spying. However, spies are not considered with common or uncommon criminals. They are neither sinners nor international lawbreakers. If spies are caught they are either send back to their country, sent to jail or used as counterespionage (double agents).
Thought out our lives, we are faced with many different learning experiences. Some of these experiences have made a better impact than others. This can be attributed to everyone’s different multiple intelligences or learning styles. A persons learning style is the method though which they gain information about their environment. As a teacher, it is our responsibility to know these styles, so we can reach each of our students and use all of the necessary methods.