Intelligence Analysis

commentary

An Early Policy Victory for DNI Haines: Boost the Priority of Open Sources Information

The quantity, quality, and accessibility of publicly available information has exploded over the past decades. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines has an opportunity to advance intelligence community mission activities on several key issues shaped by the digital information age, including the role of publicly available information.

John V. Parachini @JohnParachini, J.D. Williams, et al.

q&a

Intel, Ethics, and Emerging Tech: Q&A with Cortney Weinbaum

Cortney Weinbaum studies topics related to intelligence and cyber policy as a senior management scientist at RAND. In this interview, she discusses challenges facing the intelligence community, the risks of using AI as a solution, and ethics in scientific research.

commentary

Three Ways to Improve Australia's Intelligence Capability

Intelligence agencies should become centers of expertise, focus on what matters for their customers, and coordinate a network of partners. To better deliver on these three priorities, the Australian Intelligence Community should consider a leadership structure with authority to guide and coordinate these processes.

Arzan Tarapore

commentary

Giving Intelligence Analysts Their Voices Back: The Case for Analyst Perspectives

The intelligence community should give analysts a channel to convey their individual insights. This would give policymakers well-reasoned alternative views.

Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman

commentary

Predicting the 'Dangerousness' of Potential Terrorists

Predicting 'dangerousness' of potential terrorists is a hit-and-miss endeavor. Unless someone is waving a gun, it is extremely difficult. Even with direct access to the subject, parole boards, suicide prevention units and even trained clinicians get it wrong.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins, Jean-Francois Clair

commentary

How Do We Deal with a Flood of Data?

Despite the value of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, the amount of data they generate has become overwhelming. If the Navy does not change the way it processes information, it will reach an ISR “tipping point”—as soon as 2016.

Isaac R. Porche III, Bradley Wilson, et al.

commentary

Why 'Big Data' Can't Find the Missing Malaysian Plane

The failure to find the missing aircraft demonstrates anew the serious gaps in data coordination and challenges public assumptions about the thoroughness and simplicity of searching the world’s data for answers.

Isaac R. Porche III

commentary

The Facts About the Metadata 'Menace'

Metadata from a phone call include information such as the direction (who called whom), length, date and time. The program does not record the location or the name associated with a call. No one is listening to the call and no content is recorded.

K. Jack Riley

commentary

What Did Edward Snowden Get Wrong? Everything

Unfortunately, during the Snowden affair, many news outlets have spent more time examining ways the government could abuse the information it has access to while giving scant mention to the lengths to which the intelligence community goes to protect privacy, writes Andrew Liepman.

Andrew Liepman

commentary

What Should We Expect of Our Spies?

Questions not asked or stories not imagined by policy are not likely to be answered or developed by intelligence, writes Gregory F. Treverton.

Gregory F. Treverton

commentary

Media Leaks Hinder Intelligence Gathering

Published commentary by RAND staff: Media Leaks Hinder Intelligence Gathering, in the Washington Times.

James B. Bruce

commentary

True Intelligence Reform Is Cultural, Not Just Organizational Chart Shift

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Gregory F. Treverton, Peter A. Wilson

commentary

Don't Move Too Fast on Intelligence Reform

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

Can We Learn from Others?

Published commentary by RAND staff.

William Rosenau, Peter Chalk

commentary

Intelligence -- a Funhouse of Reflections

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Gregory F. Treverton

commentary

Why We Didn't Get the Picture

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Bruce Berkowitz

commentary

Connect the Cops to Connect the Dots

commentaries by RAND Staff: insightful commentaries on current events, published in newspapers, magazines and journals worldwide.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

The Big Difference Between Intelligence and Evidence

Usually intelligence does not offer crystal-clear answers, and we should not hang decisions to go to war or do anything else on its ability to do so, writes Bruce Berkowitz in a Washington Post commentary.

Bruce Berkowitz

commentary

Lessons for the War on Terrorism

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Robert A. Levine

commentary

Face Terror with Better Spying, Not Moats of Fear

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins

commentary

Intelligence in the Information Age; Spy Data For Sale

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Kevin M. O'Connell

commentary

Terrorism — A Policy Behind the Times

A prerequisite to ensuring that U.S. resources are focused where they can have the most effect is a sober and empirical understanding of the terrorist threat, coupled with comprehensive and coherent strategy.

Bruce Hoffman