History of U.S. Intelligence

Abstract

Intelligence network is an integral part of security system of any country and plays an important role to secure national as well as public interests. This paper discusses the history of United States' intelligence system and its evolution.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Introduction4

Discussion4

Conclusion6

References7

History of U.S. Intelligence

Introduction

Since the beginning, it has always been the interest of human beings to protect their family, territories, and possessions in order to stay safe and alert to any hostility. No doubt, the concept of intelligence has evolved through various stages and in today's rapidly changing environment intelligence comes forward as an effective layer of security services of any country (Miller, 1997). In fact, the intelligence unit is an important part of United States' security system as it provides an authority of useful knowledge and support non-conventional security. In order to proceed further towards the history of U.S. intelligence, it is better to understand what intelligence service is.

The purpose of an intelligence service is essentially information to help safeguard the interests of the state, its territorial integrity and security (Miller, 1997). This is the reason it is important to secure and properly maintain the intelligence unit. Intelligence unit is for valuable knowledge, the delivery of intelligence resulting from the processing of all information obtained and on a certain objective (intelligence), through the search, processing and dissemination of intelligence resources. It is for security reasons, which provide the necessary protection (Wrigh et al., 2004).

Discussion

In fact, the concept of intelligence was not new in the United States and its existence can be traced in late 19the century. It is a fact that collection and processing of information can be seen in the Revolutionary war period that ended in 1789 (Tidd, 2008). Later, the substandard information collection and its poor analysis also resulted in national adversity in the war of 1812. It is also a fact that during the civil war in 1861 intelligence was given a very small attention from American leaders as the country was not having any external threat. However, the creation of formal intelligence took place when Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) was established in 1882 and the other unit was Army's Military Information Division (MID) in 1885 (Tidd, 2008).

The Office of the Coordinator of Information (COI) was created initially to gather information in realtion to internal secutiry. United States would have a better way of gathering information on foreign intelligence. By 1942, the COI and ...