Intelligence Gathering Analysis

The intelligence and justice committee’s report was read to the UK assembly by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown, with instruction of the royal order of the queen. The report raised several critical issues concerning the rendition and the UK intelligence agencies, in relation to both domestic and international standards (Ganor, 2007). The report was comprehensive and with recommendations for the government to analyze, mainly on the relationship with the US and the various extra-judicial cases in the history of the UK.

The report raised the importance of UK and US collaboration in rendition, and gathering and sharing of intelligence information. The report asserted that the relationship has benefitted the public and helped in saving lives from the threats of international terrorism, and should be strengthened further (Sam, 2005).The report; however, raised concerns over the inability of the UK government’s intelligence agencies to have secured own generated ways of protecting the citizens from the threats of international terrorism. This has to do with UK’s inability to conduct own international rendition, and the inability to keep clear searchable records that may come in handy in curbing international terrorism.

In the report, the committee highlighted the importance of collaborating with the US government on issues that touch the interests of the people of the UK. The report reads, “Prior to 9/11, assistance to the U.S. “Rendition to Justice” programme – whether through the provision of intelligence or approval to use the UK airspace, - was agreed on the basis that the Americans gave assurances regarding humane treatment and that detainees would be accorded fair trial. These actions were appropriate and appear to us to have with our domestic law and the UK’s international obligations”, (see report, pg. 29). The 9/11 bombing of US embassies witnessed thus the spontaneous action and international collaboration in fighting terrorism, featuring the US, UK and their allies. The report thus appreciates the offensive nature of the attacks, especially in al-Qaeda strongholds.

The report further highlights the protection of Britain nationals by ensuring that they do not face trials and/or detention in another state or territory. The report called this ‘Extraordinary Rendition’, which the report said, is exposing the nationals to unfair treatment, torture, or possible leakage of intelligence information that may be harmful to the UK or the world at large. However, the committee shielded the UK security agencies against allegations of mistreating prisoners of the targeted terrorism strongholds, especially in Guantanamo bay prisons in Cuba. This is where several terrorism related captives and prisoners face torture to provide information as well as to serve their sentences. The report affirms that there is no evidence to incriminate UK agencies.

The UK intelligence and security agencies have been lauded in the report for not participating in certain operation led by the US. This is after it became evident, according to the report, that the US was determined to arrest anyone who was suspected of being linked to terrorism all over the world, hence it abused the prior agreed resolution of limiting the operations in Afghanistan. “The cases of Bisher al-Rawi and Jamil el-Banna and others during 2002 demonstrated that the U.S. was willing to conduct “Rendition to Detention” operations anywhere in the world, including against those unconnected with the conflict in Afghanistan”, (see report on page 31).

Critical Issues Relevant to the Intelligence Analysts

Intelligence analysis is the process of assessing the already gathered in formation in order to verify its impact in the case at hand. It’s taking known information in order to create a statement of probability or future actions. The analysts have underlined the fact that the information is meant to combat activities of the group in the future and not in the past. As a result, the analysis is both futuristic and proactive, because it spans the law enforcers into action, in a bid to curb the occurrence.

The analysts need relevant data and information about the target group, thus the need to look at both raw and recorded information to analyze the activities of the target group. The analyst must thus possess the skill of understanding the important information form the large data they have (Polk, 2011). In case, the information is not enough or relevant, the police should go for more information. In American military situation, the police or the military interrogate the captives or members of the public to get the information.

Understanding the target group, the dynamics of criminal groups, and/or gangsters is critical. This will enable the authority to deal with the problem of unpredictability of the criminal groups like recruitments, languages, secret meetings and the co-ordination. Some captured members may also give false information or simply decline to give information under their secret oaths. Therefore, the intelligence analysts must be able to verify the given information, and understand the dynamics of criminal groups (Polk, 2011).

Critical analytical and interpretation ability to understand what you want to use and whether the information you have is relevant to the case at hand, thus, the police or the investigative authority should be skilled enough to know what information he needs for the case at hand, and whether to go for more date or not. For example, lots of information that the groups may be disseminating may be available, of which some can be distracting to the officers (Sam, 2005).

A clear understanding of the background of the group, or spy information in order to understand their culture, communication techniques, and their trends of attacks is important. For example, when are the al-Qaida usually attack their target, how do they attack, what is the role of the locals and so on.

References

Ganor, B. (2007). The counter-terrorism puzzle: A guide for decision makers. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.

Polk, R.W. (2011). Understanding Iran: Everything You Need to Know, from Persia to the Islamic Republic, from Cyrus to Ahmadinejad. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

Sam, N. (2005). Preventing the next terrorist attack: The theory and practice of homeland security information systems. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 2(3), 1-28.