Counter Intelligence Operation

Counter Intelligence Operation

Introduction

Intelligence endeavors to achieve two goals. Firstly - providing relevant, accurate and timely knowledge related to the adversary (or would-be enemy) and the surrounding environment. Simply put, the basic goal of intelligence is supporting decision making by reducing the element of uncertainty (up to a certain extent) regarding a hostile situation. Secondly - assisting in the protection of allied forces with the aid of counterintelligence. This includes active as well as passive measures to prevent adversaries from gaining valuable information (Galeotti, 2012).

Counterintelligence

Counterintelligence is an intelligence function focusing on the identification and counteraction of threats caused (or would be caused) by hostile organizations, intelligence capabilities and individuals that are involved in subversion, espionage, terrorism or sabotage. It aims to enhance command security through denial of information to enemies that may prove to be useful for them (enemies) for utilization in the conduction of operations against allied forces, and for protection of the command security through identifying and neutralizing of subversion, espionage, terrorism and sabotage efforts. This includes active/passive actions to avoid opposition from gaining valuable information. It consists of countering terrorism, subversion and espionage (Clark, 2012).

Discussion

According to a press release (July 21, 2010), the United States Attorney K. L. Loeffler along with K. Fryslie a special agent of FBI, made publicly known that a former King Salmon, Alaska, resident named Paul G. Rockwood Jr. pleaded guilty in the District Court of the U.S for making false statements during a domestic terrorism investigation by the FBI. In addition, his wife pleaded guilty as well for making false statements during an investigation by the FBI related her husband.

At the hearing, Rockwood (aged 35 years) pleaded guilty to intentionally falsifying his statements to the investigation conducted by the FBI. He is termed with a maximum penalty for the crime which is an eight year prison sentence leading to a release under supervision, of three years. His wife, on the other hand, is termed to serve five years in prison (FBI, 2010).

The Case

Rockwood, during his stay in Virginia, became a stout follower of a radical and violent ideologist Anwar Al-Awlaki. Rockwood made up a view in his mind that it was his religious responsibility to execute anyone who defiled Islam and, therefore, began searching for potential targets. After moving to King Salmon (in 2006), he continued searching for methods and ways, to take revenge on the possible targets. He started compiling a list of targets to be executed, the target were (basically) U.S. military personnel who were to be supposedly assassinated in the name of Jihad. According to Special Agent Doug Klein, anyone wearing a military uniform was a target in Rockwood's eyes. Rockwood himself is a military veteran; he started planning and discussing his views with an individual who (he thought) had views similar to him. However, that individual was in actuality an undercover agent of the FBI working in the JTTF (Joint Terrorism task force) department in Anchorage. For some time, the agent was unsure of Rockwood's determination in carrying ...