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Old 08-01-2009, 06:28   #1
Richard
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Military intelligence: Essential Readings?

Something for the aspiring 18F/18Z/18A/180A to ponder.

Richard's $.02


Military intelligence: a list of essential readings
Tom Ricks, Foreign Policy, 31 Jul 2009

A young acquaintance of mine due to report to the Army's military intelligence school later this year asked for some reading recommendations to prepare for the classes. Having no idea, I asked some knowledgeable friends. Here are their picks:

Quote:
Army Reserve Maj. Kyle Teamey, a counterinsurgency expert:

If this is a brand new lieutenant with no previous service experience, he/she should focus first on learning the basics of soldiering, tactics, and leadership .... [and] start with the same books a young infantry or armor officer might read:

The Defense of Duffer's Drift, Swinton (and the various knock-offs)
Once an Eagle, Myrer
The Bear Went Over the Mountain and/or The Other Side of the Mountain, Grau and Jalali
Infantry Attacks, Rommel
Quote:
Retired Army Col. John Collins, who enlisted as a private in 1942, served in three wars, and also is author of Military Geography and Military Strategy :

My top candidate is Sherman Kent's classic, a golden oldie titled Strategic Intelligence for American World Policy."
Quote:
Carson Morris, a career intelligence officer:

Kent's is very good; hence naming the school after him. I would add:

Roger George & Jim Bruce's Analyzing Intelligence: Origins, Obstacles, and Innovations
Col. John Hughes-Wilson's MI Blunders and Cover-ups
The Army's Recce and Surveillance Handbook
Abe Shulsky & Gary Schmitt's Silent Warfare: Understanding the World of Intelligence, latest (think is 3rd) edition
Allen Dulles' The Craft of Intelligence
John Keegan's Intelligence in War
Steve O'Hern's Intelligence Wars: Lessons from Baghdad
Quote:
Retired Marine Col. T.X. Hammes, author of The Sling and the Stone:

Stuart Herrington's Silence Was a Weapon. Amazon has it used for under $10. Obviously good for COIN. For conventional tactical, the Marine Corps republished a small manual called ‘Intelligence for Frontline Units.' Not sure where he can get that one."
Quote:
Lani Elliott, teaches at the National Defense Intelligence College:

Sandler, Todd, et. al., 'Terrorist Signalling and the Value of Intelligence' (British Journal of Political Science, October 2007), Brian Dunmire's recent article from Military Intelligence, ‘Army Strategic Intelligence,' and Don Hanle's Terrorism: The Newest Face of War, would be my recommendations. The Dunmire article is very helpful on the career field itself and some key issues strategic intelligence faces, especially in the Army. Insightful and informed. Hanle's book provides the most immediately applicable and functional method of analyzing terrorism that I know about. The book is especially valuable when read with T.X. Hammes' The Sling and The Stone."
Quote:
James Hailer, founder, Hailer Publishing, a specialty house for military classics:

Compton McKenzies' Water on the Brain. a comedy/satire written about rivalry between competing intelligence agencies in England in 1933. It was based on MacKenzies' experience as a MI6 agent during WWI and was his revenge for being prosecuted under the official secrets act for trying to publish his memoir of the war in 1932. He nails the war between bureaucracies better than anyone I have read, and it is one of the few books that I have consistently laughed out loud as I read it. Frankly it should be required reading for any person in a large organization."
Quote:
Lin Todd, a specialist in counterterrorism in the Middle East:

Richards Heuer's ‘Psychology of Intelligence Analysis' is a classic primer on analysis of intel of all sorts. In addition, Front Line Intelligence by COL Robert Robb and LTC Stedman Chandler, which is an S2 AAR of intelligence from WWII, might be useful."
Quote:
Shawn Brimley, one of the brains behind the QDR:

Three additional books that have influenced my thinking on this issue are:

Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy -- by Mark Lowenthal
Anticipating Surprise: Analysis for Strategic Warning - by Cynthia Grabo
Surprise Attack: Lessons for Defense Planning -- by Richard Betts."
What would you suggest adding to this list?

http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts...ntial_readings
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Old 08-01-2009, 10:39   #2
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These are not good "how to" texts if you are looking for the basics of intelligence cycle, analytical thought, etc. They are more niche books, but I found them to be quite educational. Funding Evil, How Terrorism is Financed... & Evil Money, Encounters Along... by Rachel Ehrenfeld because everything requires financing. I also like Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA's Spytechs, from Communism to al-Qaeda by Robert Wallace, H. Keith Melton, and Henry R. Schlesinger for a historical view of technology.

x/S
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Old 08-27-2009, 02:10   #3
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Here you go...

The Al Qaeda Reader. MUST READ. If nothing else, read the forward and the introduction. The analysis by Raymond Ibraham and Victor Davis Hansen is a crash course in Islamic Law, the foundation of the war of ideas in which we find ourselves. What you'll find are the words of Bin Laden and Zawahiri - what they say to US and what they say to Muslims - which is different - and why. I was afraid it would be wasting my time reading pages of "Why I hate America" screedo by bin laden. Instead, it ultimately provides a much better understanding of the threat we face.
If al qaeda were crushed tomorrow, it would still provide a road map to understanding the islamic militant threat.
READ THIS BOOK and KNOW YOUR ENEMY.
http://www.amazon.com/Al-Qaeda-Reade.../dp/038551655X

Counter Insurgency: Theory and Practice by David Galula. IT's THE BOOK that GEN(RET) Keane told Rumsfeld to read when he explained the concept of the surge in Iraq to the SECDEF. A quick read, it takes complicated counter-insurgency concepts and makes them easy to understand.
Make sure you read LTC(RET) John Nagl's introduction as well.
http://www.amazon.com/Counterinsurge...1360262&sr=1-2

Defeating Jihad by Serge Trifkovic. The title says it all.
http://www.amazon.com/Defeating-Jiha...1360439&sr=1-1

They Must Be Stopped: Why We Must Defeat Radical Islam and How We Can Do It by Brigitte Gabriel
http://www.amazon.com/They-Must-Be-S...1360509&sr=1-2

Stealth Jihad by Robert Spencer.
http://www.amazon.com/Stealth-Jihad-...1360509&sr=1-1

This is a good start...will add more later...

Last edited by Warrior-Mentor; 08-27-2009 at 02:16.
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Old 09-17-2009, 20:03   #4
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Stuart Herrington's books are good for COIN and Counterintelligence tips. He's been in the business a while, though these days I believe he is thwarting corporate enemies. For CI types I recommend Stu's book "Traitors Among Us", David Wise's book, "Cassidy's Run" and Orrin Defforest's "Slow Burn".

Handy website: http://cicentre.com/
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Old 01-16-2010, 02:06   #5
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Terror In The Name Of God.
Jessica Stern.

Foriegn Affairs Magazine.

Inside Sudan: Political Islam, Conflict and Catastrophe.
Donald Petterson.

The Looming Tower.
Lawrence Wright.

Milestones.
Sayyid Qutb
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Old 03-20-2010, 19:12   #6
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Have any of you read the book "See no Evil" by Robert Baer? Its written by an apparently disaffected DO officer who started working for the CIA in the the mid 70's. It's not a book on MI, but besides "The Killer elite" I haven't been able to find anything specifically on MI in the local bookstore. I'll be getting some of the books recommended here though. Anyway, I was wondering if any of you gentlemen have read "See no Evil" and if you have, what do you think of it? Some of what the author writes is tainted with his own beef against the CIA which gets a little annoying, he's more than entitled to his own opinion (just so long as it doesn't violate OPSEC) but I'm not interested in that, I'm interested in the techniques he says he used throughout his service ( targeting/handling agents, surveillance/countersurveillance, etc.). My question for you gentlemen is are the way things are done in the MI community the same way things are done in the CIA community (If you can't answer due to OPSEC I understand)?


Warrior-Mentor: Great book by the way! "Get Selected" was a great read, and a great motivational piece. I've been following your advice and I just got some ripple-sole jungle boots, saddle soaped them, and mink oiled them. I'm slowly breaking them in and when I get over this flu I'll be doing my first ruck in them. Thank you Sir!
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Old 06-27-2010, 20:24   #7
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Analyzing Intelligence: Origins, Obstacles, and Innovations
by Roger Z. George (Paperback) about $20.00

Written by a career analyst with CIA, DIA, DoD. Book touches on a critical topic in the field of intelligence analysis for national level options for 18Fs.



Intelligence Analysis: A Target-Centric Approach
by Robert M. Clark (Paperback) at least $45.00

BEST BOOK for any 18F!! If you new or old, buy this book. If your thinking of doing INTEL after your military career, buy this book. This book thorough explanation of the intelligence analyst and your job. Breaks down each discipline with each chapter.
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Old 06-28-2010, 00:09   #8
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Just basics if MI basic Officer Course.

Know what an INSUM is. Learn how an S2 works on the staff. Learn the required reports plus Intel sources. Learn the Intel rating process and what is F6. Get the INTEL NCO's to teach you. Hell, that old triple 6 course was above any officer's course.
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Old 12-30-2013, 15:58   #9
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Analytic tradecraft

Here are some good reads.. Just google Jack Davis and "analytic tradecraft" you will many others

https://www.cia.gov/library/kent-cen...rs/vol1no2.htm

https://www.cia.gov/library/center-f...imer-apr09.pdf

YouTube Vid... http://youtu.be/2ZB9nfeyiTE
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"Berg Heil"

History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over."

COLONEL BULL SIMONS

Intelligence failures are failures of command [just] as operations failures are command failures.”
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Old 01-28-2014, 21:31   #10
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A Tradecraft Primer: Structured Analytic Techniques for Improving Intel Analysis

A Tradecraft Primer: Structured Analytic Techniques for Improving Intelligence Analysis

Here is a good read over how Analysis work and anyone think or working in the Fox position should look over.

http://www.scip.org/files/Resources/...aft-Primer.pdf
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"Berg Heil"

History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over."

COLONEL BULL SIMONS

Intelligence failures are failures of command [just] as operations failures are command failures.”
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Old 01-29-2014, 22:12   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MtnGoat View Post
A Tradecraft Primer: Structured Analytic Techniques for Improving Intelligence Analysis

Here is a good read over how Analysis work and anyone think or working in the Fox position should look over.

http://www.scip.org/files/Resources/...aft-Primer.pdf
Gutes Lesen!

I also recommend Intelligence Analysis: A Target-Centric Approach 4th Ed by Robert M. Clark

It builds on the premise that the old intel cycle does not correspond well in today's requirement for quick turnaround and involvement of all parties. Also discussed in great detail: The framing effect and Bayes' Theorem.....usw
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Old 01-29-2014, 22:27   #12
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Originally Posted by frostfire View Post
Gutes Lesen!

I also recommend Intelligence Analysis: A Target-Centric Approach 4th Ed by Robert M. Clark

It builds on the premise that the old intel cycle does not correspond well in today's requirement for quick turnaround and involvement of all parties. Also discussed in great detail: The framing effect and Bayes' Theorem.....usw
I think I reviewed this. It's good, but damn it is very dry reading.

I thought it was good and give a great baseline on how too. BUT it didn't provide good example of the how to parts. Good a Intell books I deploy with and reach for. One thing that is very good about Intelligence Analysis: A Target-Centric Approach is that it does reach down to the basics. I think the military should use this as a base for a INTEL PAM booklet for new 35F and such.
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"Berg Heil"

History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over."

COLONEL BULL SIMONS

Intelligence failures are failures of command [just] as operations failures are command failures.”
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Old 01-30-2014, 16:20   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MtnGoat View Post
I think I reviewed this. It's good, but damn it is very dry reading.

I thought it was good and give a great baseline on how too. BUT it didn't provide good example of the how to parts. Good a Intell books I deploy with and reach for. One thing that is very good about Intelligence Analysis: A Target-Centric Approach is that it does reach down to the basics. I think the military should use this as a base for a INTEL PAM booklet for new 35F and such.
yep, it sure is . Was reading it during blood draw and man, it was a struggle. I thought at the end there was some practical how to/case study contrasting Iraq intel inaccuracy and that of Bosnia.

Well, here's an easy read and practical one....useful to train regular Joe's as well. The 35 series that I came across are quite good with "loose lips sink ships" adage, even one fresh out of AIT
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investig...ion-techniques

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brush Okie View Post
Basically how do we do business vs other countries and what are the strength and weakness of each. Open source material.
The book US Intelligence Community 6th edition by Richelson goes over that a bit. Basically, unlike us with 17 IC members + their subsets, other countries has more limited, yet consolidated collecting agencies
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"we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" Rom. 5:3-4

"So we can suffer, and in suffering we know who we are" David Goggins

"Aide-toi, Dieu t'aidera " Jehanne, la Pucelle

Der, der Geld verliert, verliert einiges;
Der, der einen Freund verliert, verliert viel mehr;
Der, der das Vertrauen verliert, verliert alles.

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Old 01-29-2014, 09:08   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brush Okie View Post
Is there any open source info out there on the US approach and its strengths and weakness and possible different ways ie UK, Russian system that we could learn from?
You asking on how we differ in the way we do intelligence analysis to the Russians and the Brets?
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"Berg Heil"

History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over."

COLONEL BULL SIMONS

Intelligence failures are failures of command [just] as operations failures are command failures.”
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Old 01-29-2014, 22:29   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brush Okie View Post
Basically how do we do business vs other countries and what are the strength and weakness of each. Open source material.
I'll have to think on this one. I'll be PMing you some questions over this.
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"Berg Heil"

History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over."

COLONEL BULL SIMONS

Intelligence failures are failures of command [just] as operations failures are command failures.”
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