I am a regular reader of “Studies in Intelligence”, a quarterly journal produced by the CIA’s Center for the Study of Intelligence. It contains dozens of declassified academic papers on historical and policy matters, all written through the lens of government intelligence.
Earlier this year I read this article by Martin Petersen (former Deputy Executive Director of the CIA), which bears the awkward title “What I Learned in 40 Years of Doing Intelligence Analysis for US Policy Makers”. I think it’s a vital primer for all analysts – whether they work in intel or not – in the public, private or non-profit sectors. It’s also a reminder that, despite its very public failures and the concomitant decline in public trust, the intelligence community remains filled with diligent and ardent people like Mr. Petersen. His “rules” are worthy of memorization.
NOTE: “DI” stands for the Directorate of Intelligence, a branch of the CIA that provides research and analysis for a variety of US government clients; Mr Petersen worked in the DI. It should not be confused with “DIA” which is the Pentagon’s “Defense Intelligence Agency”.
