What is intelligence? Sources of intelligence Types of intelligence The Intelligence Cycle Further Reading |
Just What is Intelligence Anyway?Intelligence is the subject of many myths and misunderstandings. It is not the same thing as "spying", but it may use information from spying. It is not even just about "secrets", but most of what it does will be secret. So, if that's what intelligence is not, what is it? Perhap's the Duke of Wellington (left), famous for defeating Napoleon at Waterloo, put it best: All of the business of war, and indeed all of the business of life, is to endeavour to find out what you don't know by what you do; that's what I called `guessing what was on the other side of the hill.' The dictionary defines intelligence as "information, news; collecting information, esp. that of military value". This, and Wellington's insight, get at the real meaning of intelligence. Intelligence is just the process for finding out what one needs to know.
Why is this distinction important? There are many reasons, but two stand out:
To return to Wellington's quote, information is "what you do know", and the process of intelligence is the "endeavour to find out what you don't know."
Intelligence is simply finding out what needs to be known. Viewed that way, as the Duke of Wellington said, the concept of intelligence is applicable in most walks of life. Businesses want to know what their customers want. Governments want to know what other governments are doing. Even organizations like relief agencies want to know things like where their efforts will be required. Everyone needs intelligence. Questions or comments for us? |