Intelligence Analysis

commentary

The Intelligence Community's Deadly Bias Toward Classified Sources
Even when relevant data is publicly available, U.S. intelligence analysts are not including it in their analytic products during their routine course of business. This willful ignorance of publicly available information is hurting U.S. national security.
Apr 12, 2021

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.
Mar 4, 2021
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.
Aug 23, 2019
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.
Apr 4, 2017
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.
Oct 20, 2016
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.
Mar 2, 2015
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.
Jun 23, 2014
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.
May 1, 2014
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.
Jan 26, 2014
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.
Aug 12, 2013
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.
May 25, 2011
commentary

Media Leaks Hinder Intelligence Gathering
Published commentary by RAND staff: Media Leaks Hinder Intelligence Gathering, in the Washington Times.
Mar 11, 2007
commentary

True Intelligence Reform Is Cultural, Not Just Organizational Chart Shift
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Jan 13, 2005
commentary

Don't Move Too Fast on Intelligence Reform
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Aug 17, 2004
commentary

Can We Learn from Others?
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Apr 15, 2004
commentary

Intelligence -- a Funhouse of Reflections
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Feb 15, 2004
commentary

Why We Didn't Get the Picture
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Feb 1, 2004
commentary

Connect the Cops to Connect the Dots
commentaries by RAND Staff: insightful commentaries on current events, published in newspapers, magazines and journals worldwide.
Jun 1, 2003
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.
Feb 2, 2003
commentary

Lessons for the War on Terrorism
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Jul 26, 2002
commentary

Face Terror with Better Spying, Not Moats of Fear
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Jul 10, 2002
commentary

Intelligence in the Information Age; Spy Data For Sale
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Apr 8, 2001
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.
Nov 12, 2000

Quoted

Research conducted in school districts around the country demonstrates significant public health benefits of later school start times. When schools start later, teens get more sleep. Not surprisingly, a well-rested teen is happier, more alert, and able to learn. Studies have even shown that with later school start times, attendance improves and graduation rates go up.

Wendy M. Troxel

Senior Behavioral and Social Scientist

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune

It is fair to say security relations between and among the four Quad participants are at an historic high point. This is a good sign because it suggests that the Quad is no longer a temporary, fair-weather construct like the first time around.

Derek Grossman

Senior Defense Analyst

Source: Foreign Policy

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The Policy Currents Podcast

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Assessing and Articulating the Wider Benefits of Research

Improving Access to Early Childhood Education

Intelligence Analysis

The Intelligence Community's Deadly Bias Toward Classified Sources

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

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

Three Ways to Improve Australia's Intelligence Capability

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

Predicting the 'Dangerousness' of Potential Terrorists

How Do We Deal with a Flood of Data?

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

The Facts About the Metadata 'Menace'

What Did Edward Snowden Get Wrong? Everything

What Should We Expect of Our Spies?

Media Leaks Hinder Intelligence Gathering

True Intelligence Reform Is Cultural, Not Just Organizational Chart Shift

Don't Move Too Fast on Intelligence Reform

Can We Learn from Others?

Intelligence -- a Funhouse of Reflections

Why We Didn't Get the Picture

Connect the Cops to Connect the Dots

The Big Difference Between Intelligence and Evidence

Lessons for the War on Terrorism

Face Terror with Better Spying, Not Moats of Fear

Intelligence in the Information Age; Spy Data For Sale

Terrorism — A Policy Behind the Times

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