COMM/POSC444-010

“Global Agenda 2003”

Writing Assignment #6

Final Assignment

Due: Monday, May 26, 2003

Preamble:

This semester, you have observed a variety of “practitioners” of foreign affairs, all involved in some way with the issue of intelligence and espionage. Each is involved in somewhat different aspects, each with a unique perspective. You have had a chance to hear them talk and to interact with them about their professions and their lives, as well as about the substance of their work.

At the same time, you’ve lived through a period of questioning whether the intelligence community has adequately served the nation in both the September 11, 2001 and the Iraq War 2003 episodes.

Write:

For the past several months, you have assembled a “blue ribbon panel” of experts to help you sort through the complex subject:

• professors who compared the real world of intelligence to the Hollywood version
• a top-ranking CIA executive who has managed covert operations and analysis for several previous presidents
• a Cold War agent who worked for the Soviet Union, but now advises the United States
• a CIA officer who specialized in rooting out moles in the U.S. and preventing foreign agents from scoring against the U.S.
• an intelligence officer who spent her career analyzing information about the Middle East and terrorism in the Arab world
• a specialist in signals intelligence
• an analyst of satellite and aircraft spy photography
• a national newspaper reporter who regularly breaks news about covert U.S. actions and failures in the intelligence community
• a military intelligence specialist who trains Army officers
• a professor/journalist who has covered intelligence and foreign affairs for many years and has observed on news media and public interaction with intelligence and espionage

From each one, you’ve heard a litany of boasts and criticisms of how the United States performs its intelligence and espionage functions.

Review your notes and the comments of each of our speakers. Compile a list of “recommendations” based on their advice.

• What should the United States (its government, its people, its media) do differently, according to these practitioners? Should it do more? Less? Of what?
• Should anything change about the aims and goals of intelligence gathering?
• What surprises you about their views?
• How are these advisers consistent in some ways? Inconsistent?

Use specific examples from our speakers, our readings and our classes. Remember that webcasts of seven of our speakers are available via the course web site, should you wish to review their remarks or obtain direct quotes.

This is a list of recommendations. You may choose to group your recommendations any way you wish. You will want to keep them sharp, clear, concise. Consider “headlines” followed by one or two paragraphs of explanation. If there are conflicts, you will want to make clear who recommends which and why.

Aim for about 5-7 pages.