ABSTRACT
Economic and scientific-technological intelligence have always played roles in intelligence, and sometimes very important ones. The problems facing economic intelligence can best be illustrated by reference to several historical cases. The oil issue was of great topical interest, and the document supported the administration's energy policy. The economic analysts of the Central Intelligence Agency, for instance, have devoted an inordinate amount of time and effort to various ruble/dollar conversion estimates that are of limited practical value. Germany neglected economic intelligence in World War I; its intelligence directors were the first to admit this failure in later years. Economic intelligence and science and technology intelligence have committed mistakes over the years. Scientific intelligence is done by small groups of specialists in myriad technical disciplines. Success in intelligence is more often than not the result of patient and painstaking work. But on many occasions the element of creativity is also of crucial importance.
