Strategic Assessment

Without a doubt intelligence systems should be subject to periodic reviews. Intelligence systems are expensive and provide data and assessments that are extremely important, and at times crucial, for all echelons of national decision-makers. For better and for worse, the intelligence factor influences decisions relating to war and peace, military operations, and diplomatic initiatives. However, intelligence systems, both in Israel and around the world, are problematic. From time to time, flaws appear in the functioning of the main components, some of which – in the research process, the intelligence gathering efforts, and operational/preventive area – are of the utmost importance. Such flaws constitute good reason to carry out regular inspections of intelligence systems by means of internal monitoring and, at times, external as well.