Discussion 1 Replies

Discussion 1 Replies

Hi Michael,

I agree with you that the intelligence community undertakes proactive action with interest in national security. However, there is a significant need to execute such activities by applying the benefit-risk approach to ensure the lives of the target nation are safe too. Such information is critical, and the intelligence community needs to keep it a secret because it can raise chaos if it is leaked to the public domain. Also, the intelligence community maximizes the strategies to ensure the entire process is effective. I believe intelligence gathering should be improved through technology. For instance, the use of drones and satellites is a fast and reliable approach to collect information from the target nation. However, the procedure can be expensive but is the government should be ready to incur the cost to improve the intelligence process. I also agree with you the use of technology has also exposed the information to exploitation. However, the intelligence community should ensure the information sent is coded and encrypted well to ensure it does not fall into the wrong hands. The level of technology competition is also high, and the intelligence community should have updated technology. The individuals who gather information should also be well-trained to adapt to different cultured to lower the degree of suspicion. Great post!

Hi Frank,

I agree with you the gathering of intelligence information requires special skills since it’s a crucial phase of the intelligence process. Also, a good intelligence gatherer should be able to adapt to different cultures and conform to their way of life. Many spies have lost their lives in the target nations due to high suspicion and challenges to adapt to different ways of life. I agree with you that there is a challenge for the information collectors to balance between privacy and safety. However, individuals gathering information should understand the protocols of disseminating information to the authorities. Therefore, the individual gathering the information should understand all the phases of the intelligence process.  I agree with you the application of technology in intelligence has substituted the traditional approach of human intelligence. Instead of sending the spies behind the enemy lines, the technology has made spying and intelligence gathering a secure and reliable task. However, the intelligence community still employs HUMINT in some countries. These Information gatherers need to learn how to adapt to different cultures to lower suspicion. I believe the United States intelligence community needs to improve on the technology since the external threats are rising, which requires advanced intelligence collection.

Week 4 Discussion 2

Hi Troy,

I agree with you the raid of Osama’s compound and killing him was an extraordinary success of the United State’s covert actions. You have brought up an interesting topic where the Navy SEALS engaged in clandestine operations. The United States intelligence community had to prepare enough to raid the compound without anyone noticing. It is also interesting how the incident turned from covert and secret action to the global news in the following day. I agree with you the SEALS were supposed to know what mission they were going. Keeping the purpose, a secret was a covert action and against the norms of SEALS. However, following the purpose, a secret was necessary since Osama was the most wanted man, and leaking any information could make the task failure. I like the way you have outlined the series of events, and the most surprising failure in this mission is the helicopter, which crashed inside the walls. I believe the intelligence community should also evaluate the risks associated with covert actions, especially to the target nation. In some instances, the intelligence community applies economic activity, which has severe outcomes for the target nation. However, the entire mission seemed successful and was embraced by the world. Great post!

Hi Richetshaye,

I agree with you the CIA has been engaging in covert actions by aiding the rebels during the Obama era. Supporting the enemies or assisting the friends behind the curtains is a standard covert action applied by the United States intelligence community. However, there are multiple severe outcomes associated with the approach, like the loss of innocent lives in the target nation. I like the example you have provided on offering covert arms to the Syrian rebels. However, there are a lot of risks associated with this action since it raised a conflict in the Middle East. The American intelligence community needed to weigh the risks and benefits of this action. I believe there is a significant need to implement policies in controlling the use of chemical weapons. The supply of weapons to the rebels also leads to loss of lives, which portrays the flaws in covert actions.  It is necessary to ensure the individuals’ lives are not at risk before executing the secret operations. Such actions have been strengthening the terrorist groups and extremists’ organizations by providing them with the necessary firearms and weapons.  Such groups join with Al-Qaeda and ISIS, which leads to frequent terrorist attacks. I like the way you have analyzed the covert action in detail. Great post!