Question 1
Various perspectives have been proposed concerning the effectiveness of covert actions in the world today. According to Roff (2015), covert action involves a broad spectrum of operations, and activities often include intelligence agencies. These agencies are usually concerned with covert dissemination of specific information used in the advancement of various objectives of foreign policies. However, some countries such as the United States prohibit using intelligence agencies as a factor of influencing domestic opinion and media. Essentially, secret operations are increasingly becoming more challenging to be kept secret in the current world.
It undoubtedly seems more convenient to justify a successful decision even if it lacks a moral basis instead of embracing a failing decision despite being legally and morally aligned. Historical information and facts indicate that the effectiveness of covert action has always been a debatable issue. The location of covert action within broader perspectives and discussions in moral and international politics should tend to eclipse critical concerns regarding their effectiveness. Assessment of the effects associated with covert actions may not be convenient, but it is quite crucial (Roff, 2015). I think that the Wikileaks dilemma is mostly associated with the questions of the complexities surrounding its legality. Besides, Wikileaks has managed to present whistleblowers with a platform to share sensitive information.
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Question 2
In light of the views of Sherman Kent, intelligence services would be expected to serve as a defender of the ideals of a nation. In this regard, an intelligence service is usually expected to operate as a government agency that is charged with the responsibility of gathering, exploiting, and analyzing information that supports law enforcement, as well as local, foreign, military, and national policy goals. Ginsburg and Kent (2017) observe that intelligence managers that are in charge of each of various disciplines of the principal gathering of information and data, as well as human intelligence, usually interact daily.
To address various issues associated with intelligence agencies, there needs to be elaborate systems of collection management in place for the various disciplines. The guiding ideology for a nation's intelligence service should comprise of efforts towards promoting its national security and that of its citizens. In this respect, national security includes the economy, individual citizens, and various institutions mandated to serve members of the public. Initially established as an agency of ensuring the protection of the nation against military attacks, the guiding ideology, and principles for the intelligence service of a nation were considered to focus on military operations. However, this ideology has managed to experience a series of transformations to include various non-military dimensions such as crime, terrorism, food, environment, energy, and cyber, among others (Ginsburg & Kent, 2017).
Question 3
The consolidation of many agencies that deal with intelligence analysis under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security plays a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness of the intelligence service. This is because different agencies tend to specialize in the performance of specific tasks in which they are competent. Besides, it is noteworthy that the role of the Director of National Intelligence can become an effective leadership role for the major agencies involved in intelligence analysis since most of the tasks and operations involved are interrelated (Irving & Kent, 2014). The role of leading the various agencies that participate in the analysis of intelligence is not too large a task to effectively put under the direction of one individual. Essentially, the leader would be expected to play the role of coordination while the various major agencies focus on the execution of finer details. To that extent, the role of the Director of National Intelligence is capable of becoming more strengthened and effective with the inclusion of more cooperating agencies.
References
Ginsburg, N., & Kent, S. (2017). Strategic Intelligence. Annals Of The Association Of
American Geographers , 40 (1), 89. doi: 10.2307/2561021
Irving, J., & Kent, S. (2014). Strategic Intelligence for American World Policy. International
Journal , 6 (4), 336. doi: 10.2307/40197722
Roff, H. (2015). Covert Actions and the Responsibility to Protect. Global Responsibility To
Protect , 7 (2), 167-189. doi: 10.1163/1875984x-00702005
