Intelligence and Counterintelligence in the Fight against Terrorism
Intelligence plays a vital in preventing terrorism activities from occurring and Helping law enforcement officers in apprehending the terrorists. Officers use intelligence to predict criminal and antisocial behaviors such as chronic and violent offenders and the risk of terrorism (Guitton, 2019). It helps in the investigation activities to prevent the occurrence of terror activities. Intelligence involves actions by gathering the relevant information to prevent crime. On the other hand, counterintelligence is the act of exerted efforts to prevent enemies from gathering data about them (Barnea, 2017). For example, counterintelligence is responsible for ensuring the weapons are not in the wrong hands. Other experts use intelligence to ensure that security threats do not become a reality.
Intelligence is more important in the homeland security department compared to counterintelligence. The reason is that intelligence will survey the behavior of people and predict the risk of crime (Barnea, 2017). The focus of intelligence activities is to gather relevant information to prevent terror activities from occurring. Homeland security involves the protection of national leaders, maritime, aviation, cybersecurity, and protection of critical infrastructure. The benefit of intelligence is to study the pattern of behavior and preventing terror activities from occurring (Barnea, 2017). For instance, the agents can gather intelligence about a plan to kill the present. The intelligence officers will use the data to predict the reasons for the motive to kill the president and the actions planned ahead of his execution. Intelligence information will be relevant to ensure that they foil the terror activities and uphold national security (Guitton, 2019). Homeland security utilizes intelligence to enhance the safety of a nation and prevent future terror activities that can undermine the peace of citizens.
References
Barnea, A. (2017). Counterintelligence: stepson of the intelligence discipline. Israel Affairs, 23(4), 715-726.
Guitton, M. J. (2019). Manipulation through online sexual behavior: Exemplifying the importance of human factor in intelligence and counterintelligence in the Big Data era. The International Journal of Intelligence, Security, and Public Affairs, 21(2), 117-142.
