This paper will highlight the development of human intelligence (HUMINT) and the importance of it in intelligence operations. HUMINT can provide information in areas that technical intelligence cannot and also drive the collection requirements of these disciplines when additional evidence is needed. HUMINT is critical in espionage efforts and has undergone the greatest changes from the start of the Cold War to the launch of the War on Terrorism.
Definition of HUMINT
Human Intelligence or HUMINT is intelligence that is collected through espionage commonly by sending clandestine officers to foreign countries in an attempt to recruit spies and gather valuable information. HUMINT can be collected through overt methods, openly known, or through covert measures, in secret. Intelligence officers have official covers that place them at diplomatic posts in foreign states allowing them to collect intelligence overtly. Covert collection efforts are done by those who do not have an official cover, who are typically portrayed as tourists, businessmen, or other various types of relevant covers. These covert HUMINT officers attempt to develop sources that have access to or could gain valuable information of interest to the U.S..
Brief History of HUMINT
HUINT was one of the first intelligence disciplines to be utilized. George Washington used spies during the Revolutionary War in which the operations directly contributed to the successful movement of troops around British forces to avoid conflict when able. The “mechanics” were an organized, patriot intelligence network that gathered intelligence on the British through the information of “spies”. Paul Revere’s famous “midnight ride” was part of a warning system based off of intel...
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The pros of electronic surveillance are extensive. The ability for agents of the United States Intelligence Community (IC) to intercept and process communications and information from foreign powers, agents of foreign powers, international terrorist organizations, and others who seek to engage in activities with such groups, provides the ...
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...
Intelligence failure was one of the main reasons why the Tet offensive happened. The allies undergo a failure of intelligence before Tet, a failure that helped plan the stages for changes in the strategies of the US. The four parts of intelligence are crucial in determining the actions of the enemy. The four tasks consist of collection of information, the analysis of the information, the decision to respond to a warning issued in the analytical stage, dissemination of the order to respond to the field co...
National Counterintelligence Center (NCC). 2010. Chapter 2: Magic. Volume 2: A Counterintelligence Reader – Counterintelligence in World War II.
The American Revolution saw the rise of the American spy, and the father of these spies was George Washington, commander in Chief of the Continental Army. The siege of New York demonstrated the importance and dire need for intelligence to General Washington. Unfortunately, the difficulty, at least initially, lies with finding people willing and able to serve in this manner. Upon recognizing the necessity for a network of subterfuge, Washington created the Culper spy ring. Housed in New York City under the command of Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, its purpose was more than merely gaining intelligence.
People- HUMINT intelligence can be collected by subject matter experts. Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) can transfer firsthand knowledge to other sources such as TSA Inspectors, law enforcement officers, TSA canine officers, and TSA supervisors. Example: BDO’s notice unusual behavior of a passenger waiting in the queue line for document verification. BDO’s reached their threshold of checks and order a search of property and the passenger. The passenger still exhibits unusual behavior after screening and boards the plane. BDO’s order the passenger’s seat to be searched and discover a knife concealed under the seat. Law enforcement officers are notified and take the passenger into custody and begin a conspiracy investigation. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigators are also called in to conduct investigations and transfer intelligence to state and local fusion centers.
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
Humans, for a long time, have thought they were unique in their intelligence. It set them apart from other animals and allowed them to conquer the world. Today, we use our intelligence to create technology that can carry multiple people across the world in merely hours out destroy a significant portion of the planet with the push of a button. However, our technology is not increasing at a contact rate. One thousand years ago, the level of sophistication in the human race was high in the Ottoman empire but nowhere else. We were fighting with swords and had only recently invented the longbow. Six hundred years ago we had invented cannons and were using concussion induced projectiles. Only one hundred years ago we had invented the lightbulb,
Counterintelligence (CI) is defined as, “information gathered and activities conducted to identify, deceive, exploit, disrupt, or protected against espionage, other intelligence activities, sabotage, or assassination conducted for or on behalf of foreign powers, organizations or persons, or their agents, or international terrorist organizations or activities. ” The citizenry of the United States on the U.S. Government is the focus of the examination of counter intelligence of citizenry on its national government. Data collected and research performed by James Riedel seeks to establish the citizens as a network of spies on the U.S. Government. The spying of citizens on the government is referred to as “espionage” . Counter Intelligence as acts of espionage committed by U.S. citizens is described by Riedel as short in duration and “poorly paid” .
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...
Intelligence by definition is “the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills” (Oxford Dictionary, 2014). However, many psychologists argue that there is no standard definition of ‘intelligence’, and there have been many different theories over time as psychologists try to find better ways to define this concept (Boundless 2013). While some believe in a single, general intelligence, others believe that intelligence involves multiple abilities and skills. Another largely debated concept is whether intelligence is genetically determined and fixed, or whether is it open to change, through learning and environmental influence. This is commonly known as the nature vs. nurture debate.
Chapter 9: Thinking, Language and Intelligence was very interesting to me. It goes over the basics that make humans, human. How we communicate with others, solving our problems in life, creating controversy over our opinions, teaching others our mistakes and finding that people can be more than you find them to be.
The ongoing debate on whether nature or nurture is responsible for intelligence seems to be a never-ending argument. There will probably be no definite answer to this argument any time soon, but answers such as Dr. Bigot's prove how intolerant of other opinions people can be. To say intelligence is entirely based on genetics, or one's environment, for that matter, is utterly extremist. An interaction of both nature and nurture is responsible for intelligence.
The human mind is an interesting thing, it can produce works of great wonder, it can imagine, it can reason and it can make sense of complex phenomena that surround it, such as politics or the economy. But, can the same be said for Artificial Intelligence? Can a robot, equipped with a sense of awareness and an ever growing base of knowledge achieve all those things? Better yet, can an AI be called into existence without at least looking at some of the problems inherently linked with intelligence that surpasses that of humans?