ABSTRACT
The inability to detect the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, before the fact and the flawed National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) regarding Iraq’s supposed 2003 possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) are widely considered intelligence failures. That is, neither scenario provided decision makers with the accurate and timely assessments they needed to carry out operations and formulate policy. Given modern dangers, it is essential that the United States maintain a robust, competent intelligence capability that can help its leaders understand the world around them and the threats they face. But, just what is intelligence? What is its role in homeland security? Finally, which agencies in the United States are responsible for carrying out this important function? This chapter investigates such questions and provides an introduction to the concepts of intelligence and intelligence analysis.
