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By Max Coutinho
There are many layers in the Intelligence Universe. HUMINT remains the sole truly effective Intelligence Gathering Method in the book, why? Because no algorithm, no computer can beat the Human Brain and the ability to interconnect and empathise.
We never know when we are before a “Secret Agent”: he can be your neighbour, the bus driver, the supermarket teller, the clerk at any public office, or even a homeless person. You just don’t know. But the question is: what kind of information can such “agents” retrieve: relevant or futile? I’d say it depends.
If someone is a certain person of interest, of course a stage will be set up in his/her neighbourhood and suddenly the neighbours are not common neighbours anymore. At the point the target only needs to ascertain whether the players are hostile or friendly.
A bus driver is in an optimal position to gather information of a more general nature: what kind of tourists are coming to the country, where do they stop more, what are they taking pictures of etc etc?
A supermarket employee is also in a good position to gather intelligence as he hears many conversations and sees many many people.
The clerk in a public office is trickier as it is very difficult to collect large amounts of information, without being spotted, unless one has the assistance of technology - why? Because the public are a tough crowd who spot one’s every move and facial expression, even though they may not realise it at that particular moment.
A homeless element is a perfect coverup as normally no one will give jot at what he is doing or listening to. For all we know, he is collecting data while lying on the floor under blankets and cardboard…he also listens to everything as people always underestimate homeless people and, as such, they always feel at ease to talk about whatever in front of, or near, them. Brilliant!
It all seems pretty simple, but intelligence gathering is never simple and we should ask ourselves whether Governments, and the people who concoct these methods, truly think through about the impact of such operations in their operatives’ lives. We understand that once you join these organisations almost everything is explained, but there are situations that escape predictions and paradigms. Then what?
Just a quick snack for thought…
(Image: Portuguese National Pantheon)
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