Review: Strategic Intelligence for the 21st Century: The Mosaic Method

5 Star, Intelligence (Commercial), Intelligence (Government/Secret), Intelligence (Public), Uncategorized
Amazon Page
Amazon Page

Alfred Rolington

5.0 out of 5 stars One of four essential books on the future of intelligence, February 2, 2013

I have been holding a gift copy of this book for over a month, waiting for it to be available on Amazon so I could post my review, and as a result have also read — and also recommend as an essential book — Sir David Omand's book Securing the State. I am rating both books at 5, both books are as erudite and perceptive as it gets.

Alfred Rolington can reasonably be considered “P” or the Public counterpart to “M” in the UK, as I have been to the secret world in the US.  He is the master of BOTH the secret process of intelligence and its purposes, AND the very broad multi-lingual multi-cultural world of open sources in unpublished, analog, and digital form that the secret world is — to be blunt — arrogantly ignorant of.  This book is one of a handful truly relevant to the future of intelligence (decision-support) done properly — which is to say, as decision-support for ALL threats and challenges, not as surveillance secrets protecting the few.

This book by Alfred Rolington, former CEO of Janes and someone I have known for over fifteen years — and whom I will testify has been the single most accomplished and imaginative speaker in my conference on international intelligence from 1992-2006, among over 750 speakers — is the better book for students and I strongly recommend it as required reading at the university level.

As I am one of the arch-critics of expensive secret “intelligence” that is done badly, and do not mince my own words, it is with some awe that I read strong critical views articulated in such a graceful manner that I can just see the US Director of National Intelligence with his pants down saying “Thank you, Sir, may I please have three more?” Naturally nothing in this book should be taken to be critical of the British intelligence community that is without peer.

Continue reading “Review: Strategic Intelligence for the 21st Century: The Mosaic Method”

Vendor Pitch Archives on Public Intelligence (1992-2006)

Commerce

2006

US

Vendor Fleming Icosystem

2006

US

Vendor Lederman Deep Web Technologies

2006

US

Vendor Proctor IBM’s Text Analytic OS Architecture

2006

US

Vendor Ruh CISCO’s Application Oriented Network

2004

US

Vendor Dietz LEXIS-NEXIS Open Sources on North Korea

2004

US

Vendor Dietz Top Ten Stories on North Korea

2001

US

Vendor NA Bright Planet White Paper on the Deep Web

2001

UK

Vendor Rotheray BBC Views on New Risks of Crisis Seen From Open Sources (Slides)

2001

UK

Vendor Rotheray BBC Views on New Risks of Crisis Seen From Open Sources (Text)

1999

US

Vendor Boyer AUTOMETRIC (Now Boeing): High Resolution Imagery

1999

NL

Vendor DataExpert DateExpert

1999

US

Vendor Powerize Powerize Overview

1998

UK

Vendor Brenton MEMEX Software

1998

UK

Vendor Hunter I2: Creating Intelligence Automatically

1998

US

Vendor Retrieval Tech. Real Time News Meets Knowledge Management

1997

US

Vendor Blejer SRA: Intelligence Information Systems

1997

US

Vendor CORE CORE SW: Business Plan Summary

1997

US

Vendor Jacobs ISOQUEST: Software for Managing Information Overload

1997

US

Vendor Rodriguez DIALOG: Targetted Decisions Support versus Generic Internet

1997

US

Vendor Weigand Forecast International: Reducing Risk Via Practical OSINT (Slides)

1997

US

Vendor Weigand Forecast International: Reducing Risk Via Practical OSINT (Text)

1996

US

Vendor Dixon LEXIS-NEXIS, Online Public Records and Criminal Investigations

1996

UK

Vendor Hutchinson Jane’s: The Role of Sources in Open Intelligence

1996

US

Vendor Krattenmaker LEXIS-NEXIS, LEXMAP Demonstration and Discussion

1996

US

Vendor Nachmanoff Oxford Analytica: Economic Intelligence Services for the Private Sector

1996

US

Vendor Nanz SPOT Image: Remarks on Commercial Imagery

1995

US

Vendor McLagan NewsEdge, Tailored News Alerts for a Competitive Edge

1995

US

Vendor Nanz Commercial Imagery and National Defense (Slides)

1995

US

Vendor Nanz Commercial Imagery and National Defense (Text)

1995

UK

Vendor Rolington Jane’s: A Theory of Open Source Information

1994

US`

Vendor Vajta-Williams Space Imaging, Commercial Imagery, and You

1993

UK

Vendor Hall Jane’s Approach to the New Threat Environment

1992

US

Vendor Driver N-STAR: An Automated Analyst Tool for Open Source Data

1992

US

Vendor Hutchinson Jane’s RUMOR OF WAR: An Information Vendor's View

1992

US

Vendor Kovaly Unique Wire Service Provides Early Intelligence

1992

US

Vendor Pincus METAMORPH: Theoretical Background and Operational Functionality

1992

US

Vendor Vendor PERISCOPE, Commercial Open Source

Policy Archives on Public Intelligence (1992-2006)

Policy

2006

US

Policy DoD QDR Shift in Focus 18 Years After Gray and Steele Recommended Same

2006

US

Policy Markowitz Defense Science Board Report on Transitions (NGO, OSINT)

2006

US

Policy Peters Counterrevolution in Military Affairs

2006

US

Policy Steele Terms of Reference for Intelligence Reform 1.1

2006

US

Policy Steele In Search of a Leader (Four Essential Reforms)

2006

US

Policy Steele Electoral Refrom as Precursor to Intelligence Reform

2006

US

Policy Tsuruoka Managing for the Future: Interview with Alvin Toffler

2005

US

Policy Andregg Ethics and the IC: Breaking the Laws of God and Man

2005

UK

Policy BASIC Think Tank Report on US Intelligence Incompetence

2005

EU

Policy EU European Union Proposed Multi-National Intelligence Service

2005

US

Policy Godson Culture of Lawfullness

2005

US

Policy Steele ON INTELLIGENCE: Overview in Aftermath of 9-11

2005

US

Policy Steele Op-Ed on Condi Rice’s Active Deception

2005

US

Policy Steele Cease and desist letter on Naquin

2005

US

Policy Tama Princeton Review on Intelligence Reform

2004

US

Policy Alexander Army G-2 Accepts OSINT as Separate Discipline

2004

US

Policy Andregg Insanity of Planned Intelligence “Reforms”

2004

AU

Policy Anon & Steele Update on OSINT in Australia

2004

FR

Policy Clerc Cognitive Knowledge for Nations

2004

US

Policy Cordesman Questions & Answers on Intelligence Reform

2004

US

Policy Cordesman & Steele Questions & Answers on Intelligence Reform

2004

US

Policy Simmons Congressman Simmons Letter to General Schoomaker on OSINT

2004

US

Policy Steele DoD OSINT Program: One Man’s View of What Is Needed

2004

US

Policy Steele Transcript of Steele at Secretary of State’s Open Forum 24 March 2004

2004

NL

Policy Tongeren (van) Need for Global Alliance for Human Security (Complete)

2004

NL

Policy Tongeren (van) Need for Global Alliance for Human Security (Overview)

2003

US

Policy Czech Steady State Revolution and National Security

2003

CA

Policy Fyffe Intelligence Sharing and OSINT

2003

CA

Policy Fyffe Intelligence Sharing and OSINT (Summary)

2003

UN

Policy Lewis Creating the Global Brain

2003

US

Policy Markowitz OSINT in Support of All Source

2003

US

Policy Markowitz Open Source Intelligence Investment Strategy

2003

US

Policy Steele Open Letter to Ambassadors Accredited to the USA

2003

BE

Policy Truyens Intelligent vs. Intelligence: That Is The Question

2002

Italy

Policy Politi 11th of September and the Future of European Intelligence

2001

US

Policy Heibel Intelligence Training: What Is It?  Who Needs It?

2001

US

Policy Heibel Value of Intelligence & Intelligence Training to Any Organization

2001

US

Policy Oakley Use of Civilian & Military Power for Engagement & Intervention

2000

US

Policy Berkowitz An Alternative View of the Future of Intellligence

2000

RU

Policy Budzko Russian View of Electronic Open Sources and How to Exploit Them

2000

US

Policy Ermarth OSINT: A Fresh Look at the Past and the Future

2000

IT

Policy Politi The Birth of OSINT in Italy

1999

US

Policy Allen (ADCI/C) OSINT as a Foundation for All-Source Collection Management

1999

UK

Policy Rolington Changing Messages in Western Knowledge Over 400 Years (Slides)

1999

UK

Policy Rolington Changing Messages in Western Knowledge Over 400 Years (Text)

1999

UK

Policy Steele Snakes in the Grass: Open Source Doctrine

1998

US

Policy Donahue Balancing Spending Among Spies, Satellites, and Schoolboys

1997

FR

Policy Botbol The OSINT Revolution: Early Failures and Future Prospects

1997

US

Policy Felsher Viability & Survivability of US Remote Sensing as Function of Policy

1997

US

Policy Steele Intelligence in the Balance: Opening Remarks at OSS ‘97

1997

US

Policy Sutton Global Coverage ($1.5B/Year Needed for Lower Tier OSINT)

1997

US

Policy Tsuruoka Asian Perceptions of What Is and Is Not Legal in Economic Intelligence

1997

UK

Policy Tyrrell Proposals to Develop a NATO/PfP OSINT Capability

1996

FR

Policy Clerc Economic and Financial Intelligence: The French Model

1996

US

Policy Kahin What Is Intellectual Property?

1996

US

Policy Steele Creating a Smart Nation (Govt Info Q and also CYBERWAR Chapter)

1996

US

Policy Steele InfoPeace: OSINT as a Policy Option & Operational Alternative

1996

US

Policy Steele Open Sources and the Virtual Intelligence Community

1996

US

Policy Steele Protecting the Civilian Infrastructure as an Aspect of Information Warfare

1996

US

Policy Zuckerman The Central Role of Open Source Economic Intelligence

1995

US

Policy Prusak Seven Myths of the Information Age

1995

US

Policy Steele Conference Executive Summary C/HPSCI and former DCI Colby

1995

US

Policy Steele Creating a Smart Nation: Strategy, Policy, Intelligence, & Information

1995

US

Policy Steele SMART NATIONS: NI Strategies and Virtual Intelligence Communities

1994

US

Policy Ogdin & Giser Cyber-Glut, and What To Do About It

1994

FR

Policy Schmidt Open Source Solutions 1994: The State of Intelligence

1994

US

Policy Schwartau Letter on NII Security

1994

US

Policy Schwartau et al Cross-Walk of 3 Experts' Spending $1 Billion per Year for NII Security

1994

US

Policy Steele Communications, Content, Coordination, and C4 Security: Talking Points

1994

US

Policy Steele Correspondence to Mr. Marty Harris, NII Commission

1994

US

Policy Steele DATA MINING: Don't Buy or Build Your Shovel Until You Know What…

1994

US

Policy Steele Expansion of Questions Posed by Senator John Warner to Aspin-Brown

1994

US

Policy Steele Letter to the Open Source Lunch Club on PFIAB Being Useless

1994

US

Policy Steele National and Corporate Security in the Age of Information

1994

US

Policy Steele Private Enterprise Intelligence: Its Potential Contribution to Nat’l Sec.

1993

FR

Policy Beaumard France: Think-tank to Anticipate & Regulate Economic Intelligence Issues

1993

FR

Policy Beaumard Learned Nations: Competitive Advantages Via Knowledge Strategies

1993

US

Policy Brenner Law and Policy of Telecommunications and Computer Database Networks

1993

US

Policy Castagna Review of Reich, The Work of Nations

1993

AU

Policy Chantler Need for Australia to Develop a Strategic Policy on OSI

1993

US

Policy Cisler Community Computer Networks

1993

US

Policy Civille The Spirit of Access: Equity, NREN, and the NII

1993

US

Policy Fedanzo A Genetic View of National Intelligence

1993

US

Policy Haver Intelligence Aim Veers to Amassing Overt Information

1993

JP

Policy Kumon Japan and the United States in the Information Age

1993

SE

Policy Leijonhelm Economic Intelligence Cooperation Between Government Industry

1993

US

Policy Love Comments on the Clinton Administration's ‘Vision' Statement for the NII

1993

US

Policy Petersen A New Twenty-First Century Role for the Intelligence Community

1993

GE

Policy Schmidt History of Failure, Future of Opportunity: Reinventions and Deja Vu

1993

US

Policy Steele A Critical Evaluation of U.S. National Security Capabilities

1993

US

Policy Steele ACCESS: Theory and Practice of Intelligence in the Age of Information

1993

US

Policy Steele Executive Order 12356, ‘National Security Information'

1993

US

Policy Steele Reinventing Intelligence in the Age of Information (TP for DCI)

1993

US

Policy Steele Reinventing Intelligence: The Advantages of OSINT

1993

US

Policy Steele Role of Grey Lit & Non-Traditional Agencies in Informing Policy Makers

1993

US

Policy Toffler (Both) Knowledge Strategies, Intellience Restructuring,  Global Competitiveness

1993

US

Policy Wallner Overview of IC Open Source Requirements and Capabilities

1993

US

Policy Wood The IC and the Open Source Information Challenge

1992

US

Policy Barlow EFF and the National Public Network (NPN)

1992

US

Policy Castagna Review of Toffler’s PowerShift

1992

SE

Policy Dedijer Open Source Solutions: Intelligence and Secrecy

1992

US

Policy Gage Open Sources, Open Systems

1992

US

Policy Greenwald Unrepresented Nations & Peoples Organization: Diplomacy's Cutting Edge

1992

US

Policy Hughes An Affordable Approach to Networking America's Schools

1992

US

Policy Kahin New Legal Paradigms for Multi-Media Information in Cyberspace

1992

US

Policy Kahn Outline of a Global Knowledge Architecture, Visions and Possibilities

1992

US

Policy Steele E3i: Ethics, Ecology, Evolution, and Intelligence

1992

US

Policy Steele Inaugural Remarks Opening 1st International Conference

1992

US

Policy Steele Information Concepts & Doctrine for the Future

1992

US

Policy Steele OSINT Clarifies Global Threats: Offers Partial Remedy to Budget Cuts

1992

US

Policy Steele Review Strassmann, Information PayOff

1992

US

Policy Wood Remarks, Don't Be Suspicious of Contractors

1991

US

Policy JFK Working Group National Intelligence and the American Enterprise: Possibilities

1991

US

Policy Karraker Highways of the Mind

1991

US

Policy Steele How to Avoid Strategic Intelligence Failures in the Future

1990

US

Policy Steele Recasting National Security in a Changing World

1957

US

Policy Wright Project for a World Intelligence Center