"Psychology of Intelligence Analysis" Topic

Of possible interest?

link

Armand

I was an intelligence analyst with the 9th Infantry Division in the early '80's (1982-1984, to be precise). Our motto was, 'Yesterday's Intelligence Tomorrow.' Yeah, we were a little cynical…..

I was in a band once and our name was "The Day After Yesterday"… we weren't cynical, looking back now we were just kind of dumb…

Just always remember, "reality" is a little model dollhouse your brain makes out of its input to navigate through what's out of it.
Even the idea that there is a brain at all, making a model of its inputs, and that there is a difference between inner space and outer space is part of that model.
And you are the main actor doll living in that little doll house of yours.
And, if you want to believe there is a puppet player or someone else cares about that little doll, that is also totally up to you.
Just make a corresponding model of the world.
The only important thing is that your model helps its corporeal host to cope with the outside world.
Yes, I realize, the brain is part of that corporeal host in my model of "reality"

Turtles upon turtles all the way down, straight to infinity.
In any case, you should always keep in mind that you can get quite lost in this hall of mirrors of the mind.

Don't forget the elephants.

Don't forget the elephants.

You are of course quite right that it is of utmost importance never to forget the other three elephants in the room, or space for that matter, that are shouldering the world.
But I would like to note, that my armchair philosophical ramblings above have at least dealt with one of them in some detail.

Thanks

Armand

I was an Intell. Analyst for 3rd ACR, and 19th Support Command. Did everything from BN Level S2 stuff, (Former 96B now 35F), and it doesn't matter what intel you get from higher, or what you actually have. What matters is how the S2, G2, J2, actual "wants it to be used", so that it will make him look good…
This is especially important for LT's shooting for Capt. Capts., shooting for Major, and Majors wanting that LTC silver oak leaf before retirement papers are in.

I agree with Murphy. Many narcissistic commanders who think they know it all will ignore intel that does not suit their agenda.

At the higher levels, intel gets politicized and the President normally appoints another politician (or politically reliable general) to head the intel agencies to help insulate the administration from unfavorable intel. How the Israelis handled intel before the 1973 war is a good example by ignoring the lower-level analysis.

Wolfhag

Thanks also…

Armand