Discussion Covert Action and Intelligence

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

• Textbook: Chapters 11, 12
• Lecture 
• Link (PDF): Report to Congress on Foreign Economic Collection and Espionage
• Link (PDF): The role of private corporations in the intelligence community
• Link (video): Challenges for Clandestine Intelligence Collection in Support of U.S. Middle East Policy (please take notes while watching this video) 

Introduction
The historical Intelligence Community adopted a theory of competitive analysis, an organizational competition to analyze (and produce) intelligence, which shapes its current structure. 

Initial Post
Why do we study the intelligence-gathering related to the Cold War and the former Soviet Union? Is there a parallel association to the Russia of today? 

Secondary Posts
Read postings provided by your instructor or fellow students. Read and respond to the conclusions drawn by your classmates. Remember to read the feedback to your own major postings and reply throughout the week. 

Writing Requirements

• In addition to one initial post, respond to at least two peers.
• Initial Post Length: minimum of 250 words
• Secondary Post Length: minimum of 200 words per post
• Using APA format, provide at least one citation with corresponding references page and use appropriate in-text citation(s) referring to the academic concept for the initial post. 

Grading and Assessment
Meeting the minimum number of posting does not guarantee an A; you must present an in-depth discussion of high quality, integrate sources to support your assertions, and refer to peers’ comments in your secondary posts to build on concepts. 

This activity will be graded using the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric.

Learning Outcome(s): 1, 4
1.   Assess the theoretical effectiveness of intelligence and covert action with regard to analyzing governmental structure and national security policy.
4.   List the different kinds of intelligence and examine how it is gathered.