Gathering intelligence: Grassroots intel by and for the people
January 30, 2007
by Steve Hammons
More people are realizing that intelligence information is very important. It can save lives and keep the peace. It can be gathered and used honestly and with honor.
Intelligence information can also be twisted to be used as deception to lead a country and a world to war, death and destruction.
Psychological operations (PSYOP), like intelligence, and sometimes using intelligence information, can be used to achieve success in positive endeavors.
Or, PSYOP can be used for dark manipulations and for terrible purposes.
These factors are all useful to consider when thinking about intelligence.
INTEL INTEGRITY
The word intelligence, as we know, can mean intelligence information as well as a person's intelligence.
It can also refer to the intelligence of a course of action and can have other similar kinds of meanings.
In any given situation, in our daily lives or in Washington, D.C., we might ask: Was intelligence information accurate? Then, did intelligent people receive it?
Was it used in an intelligent way? Was it twisted or used dishonestly? Were intelligent courses of action carried out based on it?
These questions are now on our minds regarding war in Iraq, possibly Iran, and the so-called "Global War on Terror."
We are also taking a very close look at our government officials.
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Our military and intelligence services classify intelligence in many ways, based on the type of intelligence, how it is gathered and similar factors.
Two of these are human intelligence (HUMINT) and open source intelligence (OSINT). These are areas that are receiving increased focus and funding and are considered to be valuable in the challenges we face now and in the future.
HUMINT and OSINT have value not only for national security issues, but for all of us and in all types of efforts.
GRASSROOTS INTEL
Grassroots HUMINT can refer to the value we personally get from other people, friends, family and associates.
Grassroots OSINT can include the information we get from books, magazines, the Web, music, movies and other open sources. And these kinds of information sources often overlap and intermix.
Valuable intelligence can be found in a very wide range of people, media and other sources.
We can be not only receivers of HUMINT and OSINT, but providers and contributors. Those who make interpersonal, scientific, artistic, educational or other kinds of contributions are creators of HUMINT and OSINT. Some contributions can be quite valuable in many ways.
The constructive outcomes of these efforts can be considered as a kind of positive and educational PSYOP effect.
In our personal lives as well as in national and international settings, these kinds of HUMINT and OSINT can be enriching and contribute to our growth and development. They can enhance understanding and communication.
They can be used as positive PSYOP that helps create and maintain peace and progress.
So, useful grassroots HUMINT, OSINT and PSYOP can come in many forms, and can be created and used by all of us.
Truthful information, friendship, music, artistic endeavors, family love, healing, teaching, research, scientific inquiry, compassion, kindness, spiritual quests and understanding of all kinds can become very useful platforms for intelligence.
Keep your eyes and mind open for good grassroots intelligence. The human race needs all the intelligence we can get our hands on.
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Steve Hammons [send him email] is the author of Mission into Light and Light's Hand, which are two novels about a U.S. Government and military joint-service research team investigating unusual phenomena. Click here to see Steve's homepage.
