How to analyse OS Intel

[pecunium]

This relates to a conversation I was having with abi, over at Making Light about how to parse an intel-professional's comments (mostly it's not that hard, but it requires a certain type of painfully literal reading of what was left out, as well as what was left in).

All of that aside, the writer of Once Upon a Time has posted a piece on, How you too can, and should, be an intel-analyst.

He's right.

Comments

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

I think what I got out of all that was "it is technically true, but not necessarily relevant to the matter at hand, that 'The IRGC IS engaged in terrorist[1] acitivity'."

[1] As defined by ... someone. Someone in the US government, one gathers.

I think I flunk at analysis, as this is not by itself useful.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

There's some other stuff in there.

I gather that he does work, some of which the Gov't pays for. An important, if somewhat subtle, difference.

I also got (though not with as high a degree of reliability as I might like) the idea that the lack of relevance is such that the claims of the president that Iran is actively engaged in hostilities with us aren't supported by the verity of the terrorist activity of the IGRC.

As for flunking, it takes a long time to make an analyst. You just need practice.

TK

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

I gather that he does work, some of which the Gov't pays for. An important, if somewhat subtle, difference.

*nods* I don't think it's his definition, necessarily.

I also got (though not with as high a degree of reliability as I might like) the idea that the lack of relevance is such that the claims of the president that Iran is actively engaged in hostilities with us aren't supported by the verity of the terrorist activity of the IGRC.

*nods* See, that is the bit that makes it useful, and I got that that was maybe being waved at, but I couldn't pin it down.

Gah. Worse than syllogisms. (The icon is for life in general, not for you)