I keep a sturdy three-hole punch on a shelf near my desk, and on any given day there will be a stack of assorted papers sitting next to that punch.  That stack consists of items that I have recently flagged as potentially being of reference value.  Eventually, when I manage to set aside some time to sift through my "punch stack," most of those items will be digested, punched, and sorted into an appropriate three-ring binder.  This page is the electronic analog to that stack of materials, containing recent news, notes, links, and commentary that I have processed just enough to identify as "interesting."  Over time, much of this material will make its way into the various subject-specific research and analysis programs on the site, but for now, it's shared with just a few preliminary thoughts.

August 2001 Stack | March 2002 Stack | August 2002 Stack | December 2002 Stack

JUNE 2003

Admiral Viktor Dmitrievich Federov, Commander Russian Navy Pacific Fleet.  Pictured here on 11 Jun 2003, aboard USS Hopper (DDG 70) during an official visit to Pearl Harbor.  U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2/c John Watts. 

 

 

 

 

 


r e s e a r c h ,   a n a l y s i s ,   &   p r o d u c t i o n

in-stack 13 Jun 2003

"Failing to Keep Up with the Information Revolution"
Bruce Berkowitz, Studies in Intelligence (Unclassified Vol. 47, No. 1, 2003)

Noted intelligence scholar Bruce Berkowitz shares his observations of how analysts at the CIA's Directorate of Intelligence (DI) make use of modern information technologies.  The answer appears to be "not very well," as DI analysts are hindered by isolated classified networks, search tools that are primitive compared to the state-of-the-art in the private sector, and a procurement process that seems to place the CIA's analytical branch last in line.  According to Berkowitz, In-Q-Tel programs are helpful in deploying new technologies within the Agency, but in general have had limited impact on the DI.


i r a q

in-stack 13 Jun 2003

"Chief Wiggles -- Straight from Iraq"
Warblog

Much of the late unpleasantness in Iraq has been documented in some unconventional ways, including through a number of very popular "blogs" kept by military personnel in the field.  This blog is kept by "Chief Wiggles", an Army warrant officer currently working with detained Iraqi EPWs as part of a military intelligence team.  His account of the relationships that he has formed with many of the Iraqis (the majority of whom he regards as "good men" who could be invaluable in rebuilding a new Iraq) is worth reading.


o d d s   a n d   e n d s

in-stack 13 Jun 2003

Owen Parry
aka Ralph Peters

Earlier, I mentioned that Ralph Peters reportedly had been publishing "a series of historical novels" under a pseudonym.  His pen name:  Owen Parry.  At this point I've only had a chance to read the first novel in this series of Civil War mysteries, but am looking forward to reading more.  Thanks to Andrew in Colorado for tipping me off. 


r e s e a r c h ,   a n a l y s i s ,   &   p r o d u c t i o n

in-stack 13 Jun 2003

"The View From Above:  An Imagery Analysis Tutorial"
Patrick G. Eddington, website

A very brief introduction to the science of overhead imagery analysis, by an experienced former CIA photo interpreter.  


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