Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy

Spies, bugs, moles, double-agents, drop-offs, covert action. The world of intelligence is filled with intrigue, but at its core, the information-secret or otherwise-is valuable to governments for the power it affords policy makers. With the constant need for background, context, and warning as well as an assessment of risks, benefits, and likely outcomes, the intelligence community plays a crucial role in policy formation. Lowenthal adeptly describes the development of this community while showing students how the various stages of the intelligence process serve an intelligence agenda that has changed dramatically in this post-Cold War, post-9/11 world. In this thoroughly revised second edition, Lowenthal updates each and every chapter, including new material on the infamous Robert Hanssen and Wen Ho Lee cases. Two new chapters significantly round out coverage: one on intelligence reform and another that takes a comparative look at intelligence in Britain, France, Russia, Israel, and China. This new edition also takes into account the impact and effects the war on terrorism now has on collection, analysis, and counter intelligence, as well as the ethical and moral issues surrounding these tasks.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Preface Chapter 1. Introduction - What Is "Intelligence?" Why Do We Have Intelligence Agencies? What Is Intelligence About? Chapter 2. The Development Of U.S. Intelligence Major Themes Major Historical Developments A Final Note Chapter 3. The U.S. Intelligence Community Alternative Ways of Looking at the Intelligence Community The Many Different Intelligence Communities Intelligence Community Relationships that Matter The Intelligence Budget Process Chapter 4. The Intelligence Process - A Macro Look: Who Does What For Whom? Requirements Collection Processing and Exploitation Analysis and Production Dissemination and Consumption Feedback Thinking About the Intelligence Process Chapter 5. Collection And The Collection Disciplines Overarching Themes The Collection Disciplines: Strengths and Weaknesses Collection - Conclusion Chapter 6. Analysis Major Themes Analytical Issues Intelligence Analysis: An Assessment Chapter 7. Counter Intelligence Internal Safeguards External Indicators and Counterespionage Problems in Counter intelligence Chapter 8. Covert Action The Decision-making Process The Range of Covert Action Issues in Covert Action Assessing Covert Action Chapter 9. The Role Of The Policymaker The Nature of the National Security Policy Process in the U.S. Government Who Wants What? The Intelligence Process: Policy and Intelligence Chapter 10. Oversight And Accountability Executive Oversight Issues Congressional Oversight Issues in Congressional Oversight Internal Dynamics of Congressional Oversight of Intelligence Conclusion Chapter 11. The Legacy Of The Cold War The Primacy of the Soviet Issue The Emphasis on Soviet Military Capabilities The Emphasis on Statistical Intelligence The Intelligence Record - Collapse of the Soviet Union Conclusion - Intelligence and the Soviet Problem Chapter 12. The New Intelligence Agenda U.S. National Security Policy after the Cold War Intelligence and the New Priorities Conclusion Chapter 13. Ethical And Moral Issues In Intelligence General Moral Questions Issues Related to Collection and Covert Action Analysis-related Issues The Media Conclusion Chapter 14. Intelligence Reform The Purpose of Reform Issues in Intelligence Reform Conclusion Chapter 15. Foreign Intelligence Services Britain China France Israel Russia Conclusion Appendix 1 Additional Bibliographic Citations and Websites Appendix 2 Major Intelligence Reviews of Proposals Author Index Subject Index

About the Author :
Mark M. Lowenthal has twenty-seven years of experience as an intelligence official in the executive and legislative branches of government and in the private sector. He returned to government service in 2002, concurrently performing the duties of the assistant director on central intelligence for analysis and production, and serving as vice chairman of the National Intelligence Council for Evaluation. Dr. Lowenthal is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University.