INTL 442Operation Anaconda Orientation

Lawrence D. Dietz, COL (R), USARAdjunct Professor

American Military University

Photo Source:http://www.history.army.mil/books/AMH-V2/AMH%20V2/chapter14.htm

Operation AnacondaForum Week 5: Intelligence Requirements, Collection &

ResearchIn this Forum you are to address the build-up of

intelligence collection operations against suspected Taliban and AQ targets in the area around Gardez and

Khost, Afghanistan.

The object is to allow you to apply the fundamentals you have been covering in class to actual contemporary

operations in a building-block fashion. Be specific and detailed in your contributions.

Intelligence Requirements, Collection & Research

Relevant Course ObjectiveCO-5 Identify essential tasks of the intelligence

section in collating and evaluating information, to include that on the enemy.

The Intelligence Cycle

Elements Effecting The Process

• Echelon of Command• Available Resources• Volume of input• Time• Categorization and Classification– Special Forces & The CIA are unique– SIGINT Classification may preclude distribution; should it be

excluded from the process?– On the Ground versus Remote

• Role of National Assets• Effectiveness of ‘reachback’ to higher echelons

Do You Know Where You Are Going?

Consider the work product you will have to develop.– Know your audience.– Blend in to the Battle Update Briefing– Your customers are under a lot of pressure– The more carefully you plan for processing, analysis and dissemination

the smoother the intelligence process and the greater the contribution to the operation.

Photo Source: Disney

Key Points

• Consider all aspects of deception to include the importance of deceiving SIGINT Collectors

• How can the Internet aid in a deception plan?– Remember the role of Facebook the recent exposure of PLA Hacking

• Can you really deceive in the Google Earth era?• Adapt section operations based on the skills of your personnel.• How can you encourage more intelligence involvement by line

forces?– Can personally owned equipment (mobile phone cameras) be

employed to collect tactical intelligence?• Balance necessity with security.

Helpful References

• CIA Article on Testing the Intelligence Cycle through systems modeling and simulation: https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/analytic-culture-in-the-u-s-intelligence-community/chapter_4_systems_model.htm

• CIA Basic Intro (High School) to the intelligence cycle: https://www.cia.gov/kids-page/6-12th-grade/who-we-are-what-we-do/the-intelligence-cycle.html

• FBI Version of the Intelligence Cycle: http://www.fbi.gov/intelligence/di_cycle.htm

• Source of photo for title slide: Canadian View of the Intelligence Cycle; http://www.journal.dnd.ca/vo8/no1/images/Rivard-fig-2-eng.jpg

Operation Anaconda

Forum Week 6: Tactical Intelligence Support of Operations

This Forum is intended to pull together the learnings in tactical intelligence and apply them to the contemporary

battlefield. You should draw on your readings of the doctrinal publications, Battling the Elements, Koch, and

the readings in the course materials folder. The case study of Operation Anaconda is a classic vehicle though which to

apply and emphasize the core lessons in tactical intelligence.

Relevant Course ObjectiveCO-6 Evaluate considerations and define the types

of tactical intelligence collection and assess the impact of deception on collection operations.

You Are The Conductor Of The Intelligence Symphony

• Each type of intelligence has strengths and weaknesses.

• Consider how to use one source or intelligence type to confirm intelligence from another source.

• Sometimes unreliable can be the best you can do.

The Intelligence Cycle

Elements Effecting The Process

• Echelon of Command• Available Resources• Volume of input• Time• Categorization and Classification– Special Forces & The CIA are unique– SIGINT Classification may preclude distribution; should it be

excluded from the process?– On the Ground versus Remote

• Role of National Assets• Effectiveness of ‘reachback’ to higher echelons

End Points

• Incorporate what you learned last week concerning weather and terrain.

• Would the intelligence picture have changed if Operational Anaconda was on it’s own and did not have national asset help or CENTCOM oversight?

• Was weather less of a factor in Operation anaconda than for any other previous military campaign in Afghanistan?

Helpful References

• A Time Magazine Guide to Operation Anaconda: http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020318/popup/

• Overview article on Operation Anaconda: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/oef-anaconda.htm

• MIT Seminar write-up featuring Sean Naylor: http://web.mit.edu/ssp/seminars/wed_archives_06spring/naylor.htm

• Asian perspective on Operation Anaconda: http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/DC22Ag01.html

• Source of title slide photo: http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Afghanistan/Images/39.jpg