Intelligence in Denied Areas: New Concepts for a Changing Security Environment
Abstract
This monograph focuses on intelligence operations within denied areas and how these operations today differ from those of the Cold War period. Today, the preeminent threats are transnational, violent terrorist groups that operate under the cover of failed or weak states, or under the civil protections afforded in western liberal democracies. Howard focuses on the operational environments in failed or weak states as he discusses ways to improve intelligence targeting and collection in these challenging areas. The congressionally mandated 9/11 Commission highlighted shortcomings in U.S. intelligence capabilities. In particular, the commission emphasized the need to refocus the intelligence community to overcome institutional biases toward technical intelligence collection. This monograph agrees with this assessment and explores four different -- and arguably controversial -- means of gaining intelligence in ungoverned areas of failed and failing states -- the post-Cold War denied areas. Presented in four sections, the paper elaborates on different groups that have the ability to gather intelligence on terrorists -- particularly Al Qaeda -- in areas where traditional intelligence collectors have difficulty operating. The first section describes how criminals and criminal cartels could be used as intelligence gatherers -- a controversial but historically not-unheard-of source. The second section explains how ethnic diasporas could be leveraged to gain intelligence. The third section evaluates the possibility of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) cooperating with intelligence services for mutually beneficial reasons. Finally, the fourth section reexamines the Special Operations Forces for Life program, a discarded concept that has unique intelligence collection possibilities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA495385
Entities
People
- Russell D. Howard
Organizations
- Joint Special Operations University