Espionage - Glossary of Terms

Term Black Propaganda Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

Clandestine Collection

Counterintelligence

Covert Action

Department of Defense (DOD)

Domestic Security Intelligence

Enemies Foreign Intelligence

Grey Propaganda Intelligence

Intelligence Cycle

Mirror Imaging

Definition Propaganda that purports to emanate from a source other then the true one. (Lowenthal, pp. 3) A civilian intelligence agency of the United States government responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior United States policymakers. The CIA also engages in covert activities at the request of the President of the United States of America. The acquisition of data that are not publicly available. Great secrecy and sensitivity characterize human source clandestine collection. (USIC, pp. 2) Encompasses all information acquisition and activity designed to assess foreign intelligence and security services and neutralize hostile services. (USIC, pp. 3) Any operation designed to influence foreign governments, persons, or events in support of the sponsoring governments foreign policy objectives, while keeping the sponsoring governments support of the operation secret. (USIC, pp. 3) The U.S. federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the United States armed forces. The Department of Defense is an evolution of the Department of War. The organization and functions of the DoD are set forth in Title 10 of the United States Code. Product resulting from collection, processing, integration, analysis, evaluation and interpretation of available information concerning domestic security threats. (USIC, pp. 2) Powers known to be hostile or whose policy goals are in some way inimical. (Lowenthal, pp. 5) Product resulting from collection, processing, integration, analysis, evaluation and interpretation of available information concerning foreign entities. (USIC, pp. 2) Propaganda, of which, the true sponsorship is not acknowledged. (Lowenthal, pp. 3) Intelligence is the process by which specific types of information important to national security are requested, collected, analyzed, and provided to policymakers; the products of that process; the safeguarding of these processes and this information by counterintelligence activities; and the carrying out of operations as requested by lawful authorities. (Lowenthal, pp. 8) The process by which information is acquired, converted into finished intelligence, and made available to policymakers. Generally the cycle comprises of five steps: planning and direction, collection, processing, analysis and production, and dissemination. (USIC, pp. 4) Assuming that other states or individuals will act just the way a particular country or person does. This can undermine information analysis. (Lowenthal, pp. 7)

National Clandestine Service (NCS)

National Collection Branch (NCB) [of the CIA] National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

Openly collects intelligence from U.S. residents who have traveled abroad, including scientists, technologists, economists, and energy experts returning from foreign locations of interest. NRO is one of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies. It designs, builds, and operates the spy satellites of the United States government. The NRO also develops and operates unique and innovative space reconnaissance systems and conducts intelligence-related activities essential for U.S. National Security. It also coordinates collection and analysis of information from airplane and satellite reconnaissance by the military services and the Central Intelligence Agency.

National Security National Security Agency (NSA) National Security Act of 1947

National Security Council Intelligence Directive (NSCID) National Targets

Signed by United States President, Harry S. Truman on July 26, 1947, and realigned and reorganized the U.S. Armed Forces, foreign policy, and Intelligence Community apparatus in the aftermath of World War II. The charter for NSA. All nations whose policies may have a significant impact on the U.S., ranging from the friendliest to the most hostile. National targets are the most traditional type of targets. They require significant commitment of resources. (USIC, pp. 7) Americas first central intelligence organization formed during World War
II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Open Source Collection

Politicized Intelligence

Strategic Surprise Tactical Surprise Transnational Targets

The acquisition of material in the public domain: radio and television broadcasts, newspapers, magazines, technical and scholarly journals, books, government reports, etc. (USIC, pp. 2) The tainting of strategic information by the biases of those who gather it, or of those for whom they do so. When intelligence officers have a strong preference for a specific policy outcome the intelligence analysis may display a similar bias. (Lowenthal, pp. 3-4) An event or information discovered when that individual was unaware of the information/action occurring. (Lowenthal, pp. 2-3) An event or information discovered when the individual that is engaging in an act, is not expecting to be caught. (Lowenthal, pp. 2-3) Targets extending across regions that may require approaches different from the traditional ones with respect to the collection and analysis of relevant intelligence, as well as to the manner in which the intelligence effort is organized. (USIC, pp. 6-7)