Page 23 - WBG March 2025
P. 23
FEATURE
4. MEASUREMENT AND SIGNATURE I8NTELLIGENCE (MASINT)
Scientific and technical intelligence information used to locate,
identify, or describe distinctive characteristics of specific targets. PROCESSING
The collection stage of the intelligence cycle can yield
large amounts of data that requires organization
and refinement. Substantial resources are devoted
to synthesizing this data into a form that intelligence
analysts can use.
Techniques include:
• Processing imagery
• Decoding messages and translating broadcasts
• Preparing information for computer processing,
storage, and retrieval
• Placing human-source reports into a form and
context to make them more understandable
5. OPEN SOURCE INTELLIGENCE (OSINT)
Publicly available information appearing in print or electronic ANALYSIS
form, including radio, television, newspapers, journals, the Internet, Analysts examine and evaluate all the information
commercial databases, videos, graphics, and drawings. collected, add context as needed, and integrate it into
complete products. They produce finished intelligence
that includes assessments of events and judgments
about the implications of the information for the United
States.
Often times they include alternative scenarios in their
assessments and, when appropriate, warn about possible
developments abroad that could provide threats to or
opportunities for U.S. security and policy interests. Based
on their in-depth subject-matter knowledge, analysts are
adept at spotting intelligence gaps and use those as the
basis for requirements for additional collection.
DISSEMINATION
Finished intelligence is delivered to policymakers,
military leaders, and other senior government leaders
who then make decisions based on the information.
Finished intelligence can lead to requests for additional
information, thus triggering the intelligence cycle again.
The President’s Daily Brief is one example of intelligence
6. SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE (SIGINT) dissemination. Many other policymakers and senior
The interception of signals, whether between people, between cabinet official also receive daily or near-daily
machines, or a combination of both. intelligence briefings.
EVALUATION
Although this is listed as a discrete step in the intelligence
cycle, evaluation of our products and approaches to
producing them is ongoing throughout the cycle. We are
continuously evaluating our products for relevance, bias,
accuracy, and timeliness, as well as our process to ensure
it is efficient and thorough.
Feedback from customers is an important part of
evaluation, as it helps us adjust and refine our activities
and outputs to better meet customers’ evolving
information needs.
www.wad.net | June 2025 21
