Intelligence Gathering

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how, in recent years, there has been much debate in the intelligence community relating to the balance between human intelligence (humint), and technical intelligence (techint), in satisfying a state's intelligence requirements. This paper addresses the argument from both sides and suggests that there has been an over reliance on techint in recent years, leading to inadequacies in intelligence gathering.

From the Paper:

"The current debate, although not unique to the post 9/11 period, is certainly prevalent today, and has generally involved the advocates of techint in disagreement with those that suggest humint has been neglected as a result of this. Perhaps typical of those advocates is Turner (1985. p92. cited in Shulsky. p34. 2002), who states that 'One way or another, we should soon be able to keep track of most activities on the surface of the earth, day or night, good weather or bad.' As we shall see, the idea that one collection method is favoured over the other is not helpful to the ongoing debate on intelligence reform in the U.S. and that supporters of techint's superiority are misguided, perhaps because of what Emerson (2003. p2) describes as the 'American love affair with technology.' "

Sample of Sources Used:

• House of Commons. (2004). Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction. London: The Stationery Office. (HC 898) Sess 2003-2004.
• Nye, J. (2003). Understanding International Conflicts. London: Longman.
• Shulsky, N. & Schmitt, G. (2002). Silent Warfare: Understanding the World of Intelligence. Washington DC: Brassey's.
• Chambliss, S. (2005). We Have Not Correctly Framed the Debate on Intelligence Reform. Parameters 35 (1), pp.5-13.
• Dupont, A. (2003). Intelligence for the Twenty-First Century. Intelligence and National Security 18 (4), pp.15-39.

More papers on Intelligence Gathering:

• Term Paper # 142709 : "US Intelligence Gathering Techniques"
• Term Paper # 137063 : "Intelligence Gathering"
• Essay # 137527 : "Actionable Intelligence in the Korean and Vietnam Wars"

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