Poli 007 Spring 2015: U.S. Foreign Policy, Quiz #6

This photo best represents HUMINT, which stands for Human Intelligence. HUMINT involves gathering information through direct contact with individuals, such as interviews, debriefings, or clandestine operations. In this photo, it is likely that a person or a group of people are gathering intelligence by interacting with individuals in person, suggesting the use of HUMINT methods.

The DNI was created in 2004 to help coordinate the sprawling intel community bureaucracy. This means that the purpose of establishing the DNI was to improve the coordination and communication among the various intelligence agencies and departments, which were often fragmented and lacked effective collaboration. By centralizing the coordination efforts, the DNI aimed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the intelligence community as a whole.

The excessive influence of the intel community over foreign policy can lead to potential pitfalls. One pitfall is that the intel community operates with lower levels of democratic accountability due to its secrecy, allowing it to pursue harmful policies without adequate checks. Another pitfall is that the Constitution does not explicitly mention oversight over intel agencies, which can result in their role and influence being unconstrained. Additionally, the intel community's excessive focus on counter-terrorism can cause them to overlook broader strategic and diplomatic goals, as evidenced in countries like Pakistan. Therefore, all of these factors contribute to the potential pitfalls of the intel community's excessive influence over foreign policy.

If an intelligence officer with diplomatic cover is caught spying and the host country respects international law, the worst that can happen to them is being declared persona non grata and thrown out of the country. This means that they would be expelled from the host country and lose their diplomatic status, which can have significant consequences for their career and future assignments. However, they would not be arrested or held for an extended period of time, nor would they be forced to reveal the identities of other officers in the national clandestine service.

The National Security Agency (NSA) would be the agency to turn to for eavesdropping on insurgent cell phone conversations and collecting intelligence. The NSA is responsible for signals intelligence and information assurance, making it the most appropriate agency for this task. The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency focuses on geospatial intelligence, while the Bureau of Intelligence and Research primarily provides intelligence analysis to the Department of State. None of these agencies have the specific mandate or capabilities for eavesdropping on communications like the NSA does.

The Raymond Davis episode refers to a diplomatic crisis in Pakistan involving a CIA contractor who shot and killed two Pakistani men in 2011. The incident highlighted several issues with post-9/11 intelligence operations, including outsourcing and contracting out of intelligence operations, the militarization and paramilitarization of the CIA, an obsession with counterterrorism, and the dangers of counterterrorism goals overwhelming broader foreign policy goals. However, the episode did not specifically demonstrate NSA over-reach, which refers to the excessive surveillance and intelligence gathering activities of the National Security Agency.

Covert operations are attractive to presidents for several reasons. Firstly, they do not involve messy and potentially politically unpopular military entanglements, which can help the president avoid public backlash. Secondly, covert operations are not subject to public scrutiny, allowing presidents to make decisions without being influenced by public opinion. Thirdly, in a difficult budgetary environment, covert operations are less expensive than sending in troops. However, the given answer states that covert operations are conducted under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security, which presidents more directly control. This statement is incorrect as covert operations are typically conducted by intelligence agencies like the CIA, which operate independently from presidential control.

Upon its creation, the Office of the DNI faced several hurdles, including an unclear mandate, no clear legal or budgetary authority over intelligence matters, and turf battles with other intelligence agencies. However, the powerful CIA was not one of the agencies that the DNI was tasked with overseeing. This means that the DNI did not have direct authority or control over the CIA, which could have posed a challenge in coordinating and integrating intelligence efforts across the intelligence community.

The Predator drone program is controversial and unprecedented for all of the following reasons except because all of these are reasons the drone program is controversial. This means that civilian victims, extreme secrecy surrounding them, and using them to kill American citizens overseas are all reasons that contribute to the controversy surrounding the drone program.

During the 1970s and 1980s, significant reforms were made to hold the CIA accountable. These reforms were a response to the revelations of illegal activities carried out by the agency during the Cold War, such as the Watergate scandal and the Iran-Contra affair. Senator Feinstein's authority and efforts, along with her committee, to hold the CIA accountable are based on these reforms implemented during the 1970s and 1980s.