U.S. Intelligence Revolution the Transformations Term Paper

As the Cold War began, U.S. found itself in a war with the U.S.S.R. On several levels and the only method that could have given U.S. The supremacy it desired was through the good use of intelligence. Espionage, military, industrial, and technological developments were all part of the weapons used during the Cold War. This is why the intelligence revolution was very much needed and useful in the end.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the CIA was one of the most respected organizations in the U.S., given its role in resisting against the expansion of influence of the Soviet Union and the spread of communism. These were the main missions of the organization. As the results of having a well-organized and well-trained intelligence agency paid off and as U.S. managed to prove itself superior to the Soviet Union in many instances, CIA became the main instrument for guiding the U.S. foreign policy.

The most important part of the intelligence revolution is played by a technological revolution. The CIA Director in the early 60s, John a. McCone, was the first one that proposed that the agency should focus more on science and technological research in order to offer better results. The Directorate of Science and Technology became the most important in the organization, as it was responsible for developing new technologies that would give U.S. A clear advantage. "Among the DS&T successes are the design and development of high-tech imagery and eavesdropping satellites, including the KH-11 and RHYOLITE. It monitored Soviet missile capabilities from ground stations in China, Norway, and Iran. Its photographic experts played a key role in monitoring such events as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in the Soviet Union in 1986 and Iraqi troop movements during the 1991 Gulf War. Many of the DS&T's innovations, including heart pacemaker technology, have had implications for medical research."

The technological developments in the intelligence field during the Cold War caused an intelligence revolution in the U.S. which made it possible for the United States to have a great advantage over its enemies. The supremacy of U.S. intelligence has not been questioned until 2001, after the terrorist attacks. More and more voices now call for another intelligence revolution that would adapt U.S. To the new circumstances.

Endnotes:

O'Neal, Michael J., United States Intelligence, History, available at http://www.espionageinfo.com/Ul-Vo/United-States-Intelligence-History.html

Sir Hinsley, Harry, the Intelligence Revolution: A Historical Perspective, 1988, available at http://www.usafa.af.mil/df/dfh/docs/Harmon31.doc

Knight, Judson, CIA (United States Central Intelligence Agency), available at http://www.espionageinfo.com/Ch-Co/CIA-United-States-Central-Intelligence-Agency.html

O'Neal, Michael J., CIA, Formation and History, available at http://www.espionageinfo.com/Ch-Co/CIA-Formation-and-History.html

Bibliography

Kahn, David. The Code-Breakers: The Comprehensive History of Secret Communication from Ancient Times to the Internet. New York: Scribner, 1997

Knight, Judson, CIA (United States Central Intelligence Agency), available at http://www.espionageinfo.com/Ch-Co/CIA-United-States-Central-Intelligence-Agency.html;

O'Neal, Michael J., United States Intelligence, History, available at http://www.espionageinfo.com/Ul-Vo/United-States-Intelligence-History.html;

O'Neal, Michael J., CIA, Formation and History, available at http://www.espionageinfo.com/Ch-Co/CIA-Formation-and-History.html;

Sir Hinsley, Harry, the Intelligence Revolution: A Historical Perspective, 1988, available at http://www.usafa.af.mil/df/dfh/docs/Harmon31.doc