Thursday, October 30, 2008

Snake oil under color of OSINT

I am learning about Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), which is the analysis of publicly available information to deduce intelligence trends. The CIA has now formally adopted Open Source Intelligence as one of its many tools to be used in defense of national security.

Much that is marketed under color of OSINT is nothing more than snake oil. Every sort of rant, paranoid fantasy, imperial hubris, and just plan racism, is offered up as careful analysis to be considered seriously. We need an aggressive press to sort the wheat from the chaff. Based on recent history, I am not optimistic.

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