Raw intelligence israw data gathered by an intelligence operation, such asespionage orsignal interception. Such data commonly requires processing and analysis to make it useful and reliable. To turn the raw intelligence into a finished form, the steps required may includedecryption,translation,collation,evaluation andconfirmation.[2][3][4]
In the period after theFirst World War, British practise was to circulate raw intelligence with little analysis or context.[5] Such direct intelligence was a strong influence on policy-makers.[5]Churchill was especially keen to see raw intelligence and was supplied this byDesmond Morton during his period outside the government.[6] When Churchill becamePrime Minister in 1940, he still insisted on receiving raw intelligence and wanted it all until it was explained that the volume was now too great.[6] A selection of daily intercepts was provided to him each day byBletchley Park and he called these his "golden eggs".[6]
US intelligence has a different tradition from the British. The key event for the US was the failure to prevent theattack on Pearl Harbor and the inquiries which followed concluded that this was not due to the lack of raw intelligence so much as the failure to make effective use of it. TheCentral Intelligence Agency was created to collate, analyse and summarise the raw intelligence collected by the other departments. US agencies which focus on the collection of raw intelligence include theNational Reconnaissance Office and theNational Security Agency.[7]
Raw intelligence is often referred to as "the dots"—individual pieces of information disseminated individually. Finished intelligence reports "connect the dots" by putting information in context and drawing conclusions about its implications.
Raw intelligence reports generally include what the collector thinks the analyst needs to know from the source; however, processing the raw intelligence often throws up gaps, ambiguities, uncertainties and conflicts in the raw reporting.
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