How intelligence Works (When it Does)

Imprimis ^ | February 2017 | Herbert E. Meyer

[Retain Mike]

The performance of our country;\'s intelligence service is the latest example of an issue exploding into the headlines and becoming a shouting match, while failing to clarify anything about the issue. The explosion was ignited last fall by allegations that the Russians hacked into Hillary Clinton's campaign to help Donald Trump win the election.

[Retain Mike]

Too often now the analysts begin with the conclusion they learned in a university classroom and then cherry pick the raw intelligence for a few items providing a gossamer of support for their preordained conclusion. I doubt there have been subsequent professionals to equal the likes of Bill Casey or Allen Dulles. If they had somehow made it near the top of the bureaucracy, I believe some appointed official would have gotten rid of them.

[SubMareener]

Pablum for the masses.

[logician2u]

Allen Dulles?

They need to name the CIA's HQ building at Langley for Allen Dulles. Put his name in 3-ft high letters right across the front door.

Then do as JFK wanted to do some 55 years ago . . into more than a billion pieces.

The author of this piece would benefit greatly by reading some recent books. He would have a better appreciation for how our once-great nation has become the worlds last empire to fall.

[mumblypeg]

“The author of this piece would benefit greatly by reading some recent books. He would have a better appreciation for how our once-great nation has become the worlds last empire to fall.”

Seems to me he has an appreciation for exactly that, and he expressed it in simple enough layman’s language that even I could understand it.

He went on to say, in his conclusion, that he thinks Trump is a pretty smart guy who is replacing the career bureaucrats with really smart guys with real expertise to turn things around.

[unlearner]

Excellent article. Worth the time to read it.

[Navy Patriot]

An interesting read with some valuable insight, but the author fails to note that this theoretical approach can have it’s value scuttled with the slightest preconception of a desired result, and actually commits that offense in his discussion.

[Retain Mike]

That is a good point. Most people who get to the top where they can present an analysis to JCS or a president would have already compromised much of their personal integrity. The people holding such exalted positions would often be so infected with the disease, they would not have the courage to hire
those who would give an honest evaluation.

I get to pretend I was above such compromises, because I held only one CFO position before I retired. In my case the college that hired me was near bankruptcy, and they recruited a really good man as president who wanted a hammer even if his fingers got whacked once and a while.

I think my best incite for how dilutional these relationships can be was from reading about my own war in Dereliction of Duty and The Day It Became the Longest War.