The Sherman Kent Center for Intelligence Analysis
Occasional Papers: Volume 2, Number 1, Jan. ‘03
Strategic Warning:
If Surprise is Inevitable, What Role for Analysis?
Jack Davis
Sherman Kent Center
If Surprise is Inevitable, What Role for Analysis?
Jack Davis
Sherman Kent Center
The dramatic events of 11 September 2001 color this paper,
but it is not about the devastating terrorist attacks per se, nor about
the daunting challenges of tactical warning. The focus, instead, is on
strategic warning.
Warning analysis is charged with applying all-source information, expert insights, and specialized tradecraft to help policy officials prevent or limit damage from threats to US security interests. Tactical warning, as defined in this paper, seeks to detect and deter specific threats to US interests; the objective is to avoid incident surprise and thus block or blunt damage. Strategic warning addresses perceived dangers in broader terms, in order to inform policymaker decisions on general security preparedness—again to prevent or limit damage.
Warning analysis is charged with applying all-source information, expert insights, and specialized tradecraft to help policy officials prevent or limit damage from threats to US security interests. Tactical warning, as defined in this paper, seeks to detect and deter specific threats to US interests; the objective is to avoid incident surprise and thus block or blunt damage. Strategic warning addresses perceived dangers in broader terms, in order to inform policymaker decisions on general security preparedness—again to prevent or limit damage.
