What are the capabilities and limitations of U.S. human and technical intelligence collection programs?

Provide evidence from the weekly readings to support your arguments via APA parenthetical citations.

Other sources (if used at all) must be subordinate to your understanding of the readings presented in the class.

I look forward to reading your posts and providing feedback on your topics!

Instructions: Your initial post should be at least 350 words.

By now you should have a strong understanding of the history of intelligence in the U.S.; how the intelligence community functions; how intelligence is produced; and the role of local, state and the federal governments in intelligence activities. But, you may still be wondering where does all the information that these entities collect actually come from. And, just as importantly, how is this information obtained.

In lesson three, we learned about the intelligence process and used the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA's) five-phase cycle to examine the various steps. As you recall, in the process, phase two is the collection phase. We briefly also identified and defined the six basic sources of information. These are referred to as "intelligence collection disciples" or the "INTs"

1. Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
2. Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) derived from all communications intelligence (COMINT), electronic intelligence (ELINT), or foreign instrumentation signals intelligence (FISINT).
3. Imagery Intelligence (IMINT)
4. Measurement and Signatures Intelligence (MASINT)
5. Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
6. Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT)

These six disciplines are the sources of all the information that is collected to produce intelligence products. Remember, it is a bit of a misperception that secret "movie-like" missions collect all information. While it is true that some is indeed collected in the more classic "spy" type way; a great deal of information is collected by looking at sources that everyone can access.

For the purposes of this class, we will use the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI's) explanations of the first five INTs, which include a high level discussion of which members of the IC use the those INTs. The description of the last INT, GEOINT, remains the same as lesson three and is provided by the CIA.

Human Intelligence (HUMINT) is the collection of information from human sources. The collection may be done openly. For example: when FBI agents interview witnesses or suspects, or it may be done through clandestine or covert means (espionage). Within the United States, HUMINT collection is the FBI's responsibility. Beyond U.S. borders, HUMINT is generally collected by the CIA, but also by other U.S. components abroad.

Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) refers to electronic transmissions that can be collected by ships, planes, ground sites, or satellites. Communications Intelligence (COMINT) is a type of SIGINT and refers to the interception of communications between two parties and includes electronic intelligence (ELINT) and foreign instrumentation signals intelligence (FISINT). U.S. SIGINT satellites are designed and built by the National Reconnaissance Office, although conducting U.S. signals intelligence activities is primarily the responsibility of the National Security Agency (NSA).

Imagery Intelligence (IMINT) is sometimes also referred to as photo intelligence (PHOTINT). One of the earliest forms of IMINT took place during the Civil War, when soldiers were sent up in balloons to gather intelligence about their surroundings. IMINT was practiced to a greater extent in World Wars I and II when both sides took photographs from airplanes. Today, the National Reconnaissance Office designs, builds, and operates imagery satellites, while the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is largely responsible for processing and using the imagery.
Measurement and Signatures Intelligence (MASINT) is a relatively little-known collection discipline that concerns weapons capabilities and industrial activities. MASINT includes the advanced processing and use of data gathered from overhead and airborne IMINT and SIGINT collection systems. Telemetry Intelligence (TELINT) is sometimes used to indicate data relayed by weapons during tests, while electronic intelligence (ELINT) can indicate electronic emissions picked up from modern weapons and tracking systems. Both TELINT and ELINT can be types of SIGINT and contribute to MASINT. The Defense Intelligence Agency's Central MASINT Office (CMO), is the principal user of MASINT data. Measurement and Signatures Intelligence has become increasingly important due to growing concern about the existence and spread of weapons of mass destruction. MASINT can be used, for example, to help identify chemical weapons or pinpoint the specific features of unknown weapons systems. The FBI's extensive forensic work is a type of MASINT. The FBI Laboratory's Chem-Bio Sciences Unit, for example, provides analysis to detect traces of chemical, biological, or nuclear materials to support the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of terrorist activities.

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) refers to a broad array of information and sources that are generally available, including information obtained from the media (newspapers, radio, television, etc.), professional and academic records (papers, conferences, professional associations, etc.), and public data (government reports, demographics, hearings, speeches, etc.). Unlike the other INTs, open-source intelligence is not the responsibility of any one agency, but instead is collected by the entire USIC. One advantage of OSINT is its accessibility, although the sheer amount of available information can make it difficult to know what is of value. Determining the data's source and its reliability can also be complicated. OSINT data therefore still requires review and analysis to be of use to policymakers.

Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) is the analysis and visual representation of security related activities on the earth. It is produced through and integration of imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial information. The GEOINT user community is a component of the National Systems for Geospatial Intelligence (NSG).

It is important to keep in mind a few key points about collection. Often in the field of intelligence you will hear a great deal of discussion about "connecting the dots" meaning putting all the pieces of information together to yield a usable end product or action. However, this is not what collections is about. Collections literally means collecting the information OR collecting "the dots". The next phases of the intelligence cycle process and analyze the collected information, which is connecting the dots (Norwitz 2010).

References

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/additional-publications/the-work-of-a-nation/work-of-the-cia.html

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/intelligence/disciplines

Norwitz, J. (2010). Disrupting human networks: Ancient tools for modern challenges. In Homeland Security and Intelligence, edited by Logan, K. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger Security International. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.apus.edu/login?url=http://psi.praeger.com/doc.aspx?d=/books/gpg/C9095C/C9095C-1079.xml