1) The document discusses issues related to analyzing intelligence within the US intelligence community. It focuses on the need to analyze both cultural and political intelligence together rather than separately to uncover important connections. 2) It also discusses the issue of personal bias within the intelligence community and the importance of recognizing bias and relying on a diverse team to offset biases when analyzing intelligence. 3) Developing self-awareness of personal biases and learning to consider different viewpoints are important skills that students can gain through open discussion activities like the one described in the document.

1. Alpena Community College Intelligence Community in United States
Discussion
Question DescriptionResourcesRead/review the following resources for this
activity:Textbook: Chapters 5, 6Lecture 1: CollectionLecture 2: Analysis – Part 1Lecture 3:
Analysis – Part 2Link (PDF): U.S. Government. A tradecraft primerLink (website): Covert
Action: A systems approach WoodIntroductionWhile gathering intelligence is key in the
process, the analysis of the data is what provides the players with the answers as to how to
use the material.Initial PostUsing a current issue in intelligence you find in the news or open
source material from the library, what training is needed and how would you analyze that
issue? Consider what is required to understand the intelligence needed, how to gather the
intelligence, and finally, how to analyze the information.Secondary Postsread postings
provided by your instructor or fellow students. read and respond to the conclusions drawn
by your classmates. Remember to read the feedback to your own major postings and reply
throughout the week.Writing RequirementsIn addition to one initial post, respond to at
least two peers.Initial Post Length: minimum of 250 wordsSecondary Post Length:
minimum of 200 words per postUsing APA format, provide at least one citation with
corresponding references page and use appropriate in-text citation(s) referring to the
academic concept for the initial post.Grading and AssessmentMeeting the minimum number
of posting does not guarantee an A; you must present an in-depth discussion of high quality,
integrate sources to support your assertions, and refer to peers’ comments in your
secondary posts to build on concepts.This activity will be graded using the Discussion
Forum Grading Rubric.Learning Outcome(s): 1, 3, 4, 51. Assess the theoretical effectiveness
of intelligence and covert action with regard to analyzing governmental structure and
national security policy.3. Define the U.S. Intelligence Community.4. List the different kinds
of intelligence and examine how it is gathered.5. Examine the history and structure of U.S.
intelligence.student 1 “I feel there are several current issues to discuss within the
intelligence community, one being the disconnect between collected intelligence within
cultural and political areas. The central intelligence agency states “The national intelligence
produced on the technical and cultural/political areas, however, remained largely distinct
and separate.” (CIA, 2008). When it comes to looking at terrorism there are multiple cases
in which political leaders are also very high up terrorist groups. This is important to state
because several terrorist groups are based off their culture which can tie into their religion.
This being said if we are only looking at cultural or political intelligence, we may be missing

2. some big connection point between the two. Instead of looking at just the two separately we
should bring the research we find on both together and look at it through that aspect. If you
are looking at it in an approach of what is needed to understand the intelligence of both
they each have their own importance. Political intelligence is often overlooked but a
political analyst looks at domestic politics and foreign policy and they give written or oral
statements to our policymakers.As an example, if we are looking into the new ISIS leader,
Al-Hashimi, we may miss some big factors about him (Finnegan,2019). We need to be
looking at him in both the cultural and political aspects to see who he may be connected to
in either ways. We would need to analyze both information and then look at them together
to find any connection we might not have found if we just looked at them separately..Issues
for the US Intelligence Community. (2008, June 26). Retrieved from
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-
studies/studies/vol49no3/html_files/Collection_Analysis_Iraq_5.htm.Finnegan, C. (2019,
November 6). New ISIS leader is ‘a nobody,’ but US knows ‘almost nothing’ about him:
Official. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/International/isis-leader-u…student “An
issue that I have been seeing a lot in the news, which can relate to not only the intelligence
community but everything, is personal bias and closemindedness. “In a world of fake news,
pundits and super-PAC lobbying groups it can sometimes be hard to figure out what is the
motivation behind a piece of information or even what is real.” (Maucione, 2018).
Recognizing that everyone is biased is important and that is just how humans are as we all
grew up in different ways, and we have our own thoughts and opinions. I think it is
important that those who are wanting to be apart of the intelligence community learn to
work around our personal biases. This is a reason why it is also important to work in a
diverse environment and why there needs to be more races and more women in the
community. Over the years I have seen more and more women and different races be apart
of the government, but still, a majority is white men. “Everyone in the intelligence
community needs to be aware of their bias and where they come from so they can check
that bias and find others to offset it.” (Mauscione, 2018). It would be beneficial, if aloud, to
have another person of a different background partner with them to make sure the work is
not biased, closeminded, and being done for the right reasons. Even artificial intelligence
can have biased algorithms to them, not just humans.This is something that really can not
be taught in school, but it is something that has to be discovered for yourself. Although, I can
tell that our school is trying to help students to learn to not be close-minded with these
discussion boards. Not once have I ever seen students argue or be rude to each other,
everyone has always agreed to disagree and discussed their own views while trying to
understand the other’s view, which is great. I think that we will all benefit from these
discussion boards a lot when going into the workforce.Maucione, S. (2018). To offset
personal biased, intelligence expert says those in the IC community should lean on diversity.
Federal News Network. https://federalnewsnetwork.com/academic-insights/2018/09/to-
offset-personal-bias-intelligence-expert-says-those-in-the-ic-community-should-lean-on-
diversity/