Intelligence Analysis Sources

Intelligence is a tool, a goal, a means of assessing the weaknesses of a state in order to protect its security. Intelligence organizations support the policy process because policymakers and decision-makers constantly need tailored and timely intelligence that will provide background, context, information, and warning, as well as an assessment of the risks, benefits, and the likely outcomes. They avoid strategic unexpected threats, forces, events, and developments that are capable of threatening a nation's existence and provide long-term expertise and stability to political appointees and decision-makers. They maintain the secrecy of information, needs, and methods from disclosure to competitors or counterparts. Government agencies are allowed by law to obtain information through interception and other technical measures. This chapter focuses on the intelligence collection, the different sectors of applications, and methods.