Prof. Bruno Pierri Istituzioni politiche anglo-americane e analisi dei linguaggi specifici British Intelligence Machinery American Intelligence Machinery April 30th, 2009

Foreign & Commonwealth Office Commonly called Foreign Office, responsible for promoting UK interests overseas Commonly called Foreign Office, responsible for promoting UK interests overseas Head of FCO is Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly called Foreign Secretary Head of FCO is Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly called Foreign Secretary

Special Relationship US-UK close relationship and cooperation in military matters, technology and intelligence sharing US-UK close relationship and cooperation in military matters, technology and intelligence sharing Intelligence sharing: originated in World War II. After WWII common goal of monitoring and countering communism Intelligence sharing: originated in World War II. After WWII common goal of monitoring and countering communism 1948 UK-US Security Agreement 1948 UK-US Security Agreement Head of CIA station in London attends meetings of British Joint Intelligence Committee Head of CIA station in London attends meetings of British Joint Intelligence Committee

UK Intelligence Community

Cabinet Office Dept of UK Govt supporting Prime Minister and Cabinet Dept of UK Govt supporting Prime Minister and Cabinet Three functions: Three functions: A) Supporting Prime Minister – to define and deliver Govt objectives B) Supporting Cabinet – to drive coherence, quality and delivery of policy and operations across Depts C) Strengthening Civil Service – to ensure civil service is organised and delivers Govt objectives

Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) Part of Cabinet Office: Main instrument to advise priorities for intelligence gathering and results assessing Functions: A) A) To provide regular intelligence assessments on issues of immediate and long-term importance to national interests in the fields of security, defence and foreign affairs B) B) To oversee priorities for MI6, MI5, GCHQ, and DIS C) C) To establish professional standards for intelligence analysis Permanent Secretary, Intelligence, Security and Resilience chairs JIC

Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) Created in 1964 by amalgamation of all three Armed Services’ intelligence staffs and civilian Joint Intelligence Bureau Part of Ministry of Defence (MOD) It provides intelligence assessments in support of policy-making and crisis management Support of military operations, as well as operations of other Agencies

Security Service – MI5 ommonly known as MI5 (Military Intelligence, Section 5) Established in 1909 as domestic arm of Secret Service Bureau, tasked with countering German espionage. Commonly known as MI5 (Military Intelligence, Section 5) Responsible for protecting UK against threats to national security: terrorism, espionage and weapons of mass destruction Functions: A) A) to protect national security against espionage, terrorism and sabotage, and from actions intended to overthrow or undermine parliamentary democracy B) B) to safeguard UK economic well-being against threats from abroad C) C) to act in support of police and other law enforcement agencies in prevention and detection of serious crime Home Secretary responsible for Security Service

Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) – MI6 (Military Intelligence, Section 6), concentrating on activities of Germany Often known as MI6 (Military Intelligence, Section 6), established in 1909 as Foreign Section of Secret Service Bureau, concentrating on activities of Germany Main function is collection of secret foreign intelligence on issues concerning Britain’s vital interests in the fields of security, defence, serious crime Liaison with foreign intelligence services Foreign Secretary responsible for SIS

Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) Established in 1919 as Government Code and Cypher School and adopted its present name in 1946 Established in 1919 as Government Code and Cypher School and adopted its present name in 1946 Two main missions: A) A) gathering intelligence through interception of communications in support of Govt decision-making in the fields of national security, military operations and law enforcement (“Signals Intelligence”, or Sigint) B) B) providing help to keep Govt communication and information system safe (Information Assurance) It helps to protect UK critical national infrastructure (power, water, communications etc.) Foreign Secretary responsible for GCHQ

Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) Established in 2003 in response to international terrorist threat Multi-agency unit, staffed by members of the three Agencies, the DIS and representatives from other relevant depts and the police It analyses all-source intelligence on activities, intentions and capabilities of international terrorists who may threaten UK and allied interests worldwide It sets threat levels as well as providing more in-depth reports on trends, terrorist networks and capabilities Home Secretary responsible Five threat levels: Five threat levels: 1) Low - attack unlikely 2) Moderate - attack possible, but not likely 3) Substantial - attack strong possibility 4) Severe - attack highly likely 5) Critical - attack expected imminently

Lines of Ministerial Responsibilities Prime Minister FCO Secretary MI6/GCHQ Home Secretary MI5/JTAC Defence Secretary DIS Permament Secretary Intelligence, Security and Resilience

US Intelligence: State Department Secretary of State member of: Secretary of State member of: NSC NSC Cabinet Cabinet Oval Office (Official Office of President) Oval Office (Official Office of President) Relevance of Secretary of State depends on: How much President is interested in FP How much President is interested in FP Personality of Secretary Personality of Secretary Under-Secretaries of State: Under-Secretaries of State: Jurisdiction according to different geographical areas (U-S to African Affairs; Middle East; Western Europe; Far East…) Jurisdiction according to different geographical areas (U-S to African Affairs; Middle East; Western Europe; Far East…)

Back-channel Back channel diplomacy: negotiations conducted in secret, bypassing front channels Back channel diplomacy: negotiations conducted in secret, bypassing front channels BCD associated with achievement of breakthrough agreements where front channels fail BCD associated with achievement of breakthrough agreements where front channels fail

National Security Council Established in 1947 by President Truman Established in 1947 by President Truman Main body advising President on national security and foreign policy matters Main body advising President on national security and foreign policy matters President's main arm for coordinating policies among govt agencies President's main arm for coordinating policies among govt agencies It defines long-term strategic line It defines long-term strategic line

Assistant to President for National Security Affairs Chief advisor to President on national security Chief advisor to President on national security Appointed by President without Senate Appointed by President without Senate confirmation confirmation Not connected to Dept of State and Defence bureaucracy Not connected to Dept of State and Defence bureaucracy

Intelligence Community

National Security Agency Cryptologic Intelligence agency - DOD Cryptologic Intelligence agency - DOD Created in 1952 by President Truman Created in 1952 by President Truman A) Responsible for collection and analysis of foreign communications and signals intelligence (espionage) B) Responsible for protecting U.S. Govt communications, information, and computer system (protection from espionage) NSA limited to foreign communications, but with some domestic surveillance NSA limited to foreign communications, but with some domestic surveillance

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Established in 1908 as Bureau of Investigation (BOI). Name changed in 1935 Established in 1908 as Bureau of Investigation (BOI). Name changed in 1935 Primary unit in Dept of Justice, serving as federal criminal investigative body and domestic intelligence agency Primary unit in Dept of Justice, serving as federal criminal investigative body and domestic intelligence agency FBI's top investigative priorities are: FBI's top investigative priorities are: A) Protect US from terrorist attack (counter-terrorism) B) Protect US against foreign intelligence operations and espionage (counter-intelligence) C) Protect US against cyber-based attacks and high- technology crimes D) Combat public corruption E) Combat transnational/national criminal organizations and enterprises ….

Cental Intelligence Agency (CIA) Civilian intelligence agency established in 1947 by President Truman Civilian intelligence agency established in 1947 by President Truman Primary functions: Primary functions: A) Collecting and analizying information about foreign govts, corporations, and persons B) Conducting covert actions, paramilitary and political operations C) Advicing NSC in “matters concerning intelligence activities” of Depts (I.E. covert actions) D) Evaluating intelligence “relating to National Security” (I.E. Estimate on a particular world area) Overall speaking, CIA gathers intelligence abroad, FBI and NSA in the US Overall speaking, CIA gathers intelligence abroad, FBI and NSA in the US CIA web site ( CIA web site (

Intelligence Cycle

1. Planning and Direction: drawing up specific collection requirements by policymakers 2. Collection: gathering raw information. Many sources of information including: A) A) open sources (broadcasts, newspapers, books…) B) B) secret sources (CIA agents abroad and defectors) C) C) technical sources (electronics and satellite photography) 3. Processing: converting information to a form usable by analysts through decryption, language translations, and data reduction 4. All Source Analysis and Production: conversion of basic information into finished intelligence products by analysts, who are subject-matter specialists - written reports and oral briefings 5. Dissemination: distribution of finished intelligence to the same policymakers who initiated intelligence requirements. Policymakers then make decisions based on that information