The Oxford Handbook of National Security Intelligence

Download or read book The Oxford Handbook of National Security Intelligence written by Loch K. Johnson and published by OUP USA. This book was released on 2010-03-12 with total page 903 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Throughout the past few decades, interest in the field of national security intelligence has increased dramatically as a series of intelligence scandals and failuressuch as the Iran-contra affair and the false claim that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction - has brought attention to this young discipline. The terrorist attacks of 2001 further revealed the inadequacies of the U.S. security apparatus, and a motion toward reform has formed in the wake of this tragedy. In our information-dominated age, the organizations that function in the dark are increasingly driving policy decisions, and an understanding of these hidden aspects of government is more crucial than ever." "The Oxford Handbook of National Security Intelligence surveys the current literature on national security intelligence, presenting a synthesis of theories and findings. The Handbook discusses national security intelligence within a political and historical context, explaining how intelligence agencies operate and how they collect information from around the world. It examines the problems that come with transforming raw information into credible analysis, and the difficulties involved in disseminating intelligence to policymakers. It explores the balance between secrecy and public accountability, and the ethical dilemmas that covert operations routinely present to intelligence agencies. This authoritative volume presents a comprehensive overview of the discipline, complete with research agendas and suggestions for reform." "This handbook represents the work of a distinguished team of international contributors from a variety of backgrounds: among the authors are many prominent scholars, intelligence agents, and politicians. Their dynamic array of viewpoints provides the reader with an indispensable portrait of this rapidly developing field of study, appropriate for experts and casual readers alike." --Book Jacket.