WEEK # 5 PROGRESS CHECK
Part 1: Planning and Preparation Phase
In the first section of human intelligence, commonly known as HUMIT requires the operators to plan and prepare for an instruction perspective on a piece of educing information from the source. This entails conducting extensive research on the source of the information. Specifically, the operator is required to understand the customs and culture of the sources. Further, the operator also needs to understand ways to communicate in the language of the source as a way of dealing with the issue of the language barrier. It is also deemed important to understand the country’s history conflicts as well as reasons why the source feels betrayed. The operator has a primary duty to inform the general educing information plan concerning the macro research performed on the source. In this paper, the research will provide an overview of the history of the source, the guidelines of the educing information, as well as general research.
The Army Field Manual states that the greatest challenge in coming up with educing information plan is performing general research on the source.[1] As highlighted in the scenario, Serbia is the source and the Serbians are considered as a minority group in Kosovo. Specifically, Serbians represent 6 percent of the Kosovo population. In 2008, the United States forces played an important role in helping the Kosovo forces to gain independence an action that was not recognized by Serbians. Fundamentally, the Serbians have a conflict with the Albanians due to the historic genocide that was caused by the Albanians against the Serbians.[2] Therefore, the Serbians have always wanted revenge against the U.S for assisting the Kosovo forces to gain independence using insurgent actions. Since the operator has understood the historical overview of the situation, the next step involves researching the general source.
The operator has several ways to explore general research. However, the operator needs to understand the HUMINT reports of the states involved in the conflict. In other words, the operator will be required to access some research elements. For instance, the operator will require access to an integrated broadcast system, collaborative tools, and the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communication Systems (JWICS) to understand unrestrained database information about the country and threat groups.[3] Once the general research is conducted on the source, the operator can proceed to perform specific source research as it is outlined in part 2 of this paper. The process involves interrogation approaches and questions as it relates to KUBARK profile.
Arguably, a piece of educing information needs to put into account several actions. First, the plan should in line with the law and authorization of the command. It is worth noting that there are four elements of each educing information plan: task organization, mission, situation, and execution. Task organization involves educing information from an unreceptive source in a manner that could result in intelligence while preventing an insurgent attack on allied forces. In this case, the mission involves peacekeeping activities in Kosovo.[4] The execution relies on the skills of the operation in extracting valuable information and preventing a potential attack.
Conclusively, in the HUMINT collector operations, the operator organized and prepared for a macro perspective on an educing information from Serbia. General research was performed about the source and the operator become aware of the customs and culture of the source. The process was important to enable the operator communicate with the source’s language. The operator also learned the history of the conflict and why the source feels offended.
Part 2. Interrogation Approaches and Questions
In the other phase, the operator needs to know the mechanism to use to derive valuable information from the source. Essentially, social psychology is a vital aspect of eliciting valuable intelligence information. The Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) KUBARK counterintelligence guidelines provide crucial personality traits as well as interrogation techniques that work effectively in each case. This section outlines the interrogation approaches to employ depending on the psychological attributes of the source.
Social psychology refers to the study of manipulating a person’s attitude and behavior to persuade the source to release any critical information. One of the major goals of the operator in the scenario is to release vital intelligence information that would help to prevent an attack in the United States forces in Kosovo.[5] Thus, the operator needs to know how to successfully navigate the psyche of the source. The CIA KUBARK counterintelligence guideline classifies personality traits into several groups. Three of the personality traits and certain interrogation techniques will be used for each specific source.[6] One of the personality traits used to the source is the orderly obstinate character. As demonstrated in the case, the Serbian source was against the authority when the operator entered the room. The source also seemed agitated when asked how the police were treating him. According to the counterintelligence manual, the first thing in dealing with an orderly –obstinate character is to develop support and avoid demonstrating any form of threatening behavior. The most appropriate approach for this character is the emotional hate approach as it centers on the desire of the source to hold grudge and revenge.[7] During the first interpersonal conversation, the source demonstrated more than one personality trait.
According to the KUBARK manual, the other personality trait is greedy and demanding character. During the first interrogation, the source is seen making several demands. Additionally, the source showed some veins protruding from the head when he was asked friendly questions. The source decided a time for the fight has come. In this personality trait, social-psychological manipulation works best. Therefore, the interrogation approach that was suitable for greed and demanding type would be the incentive approach as well as the door-in-the-face approach of salesmanship. Notably, a door in –the face approach provides small enticing rewards with big promises for eliciting crucial intelligence.
The third personality trait that may be used to the source is the exception personality trait. According to the Serbian Source, Serbia was unjustly treated by the United States forces by helping Kosovo gain its independence. The source argued that the U.S military was in Kosovo illegally to treat them (Serbians) with no justice. Consequently, the source joined a rebel group to fight the perceived threat. The interrogation approach that could be used for this personality trait is emotional pride and ego-down mechanism since the exception creates a false perception of loyalty to the cause hence attacking the loyalty could help elicit important information.
In summary, the operator has learned several manipulation buttons to use for the source to elicit valuable information. The psychology of manipulation, interpersonal social psychology was the major concept in obtaining valuable intelligence. Several psychological techniques were used to obtain the needed intelligence depending on the personality traits that were demonstrated by the source.
Bibliography
Central Intelligence Agency. KUBARK Counterintelligence Interrogation. Washington, DC: CIA, 1963. Accessed 17 June 2020, https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB122/index.htm#kubark
Field Manual 2-22.3, Human Intelligence Collector Operations. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 6 Sep 2006. Accessed 17 June 2020 https://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm2-22-3.pdf
Intelligence Science Board. “Educing Information Interrogation: Science and Art.” National Defense Intelligence College, 2006. Accessed 17 June 2020, http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/OathBetrayed/Intelligence%20Science%20Board%202006.pdf
Zaragovia, Veronica, & Valerie Plesh. “There is one place where Serbs and Albanians coexist in Kosovo — in the country’s version of Costco.” Pri.org. 5 Mar 2018. Accessed 17 June 2020 https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-03-05/there-one-place-where-serbs-and-albanians-coexist-kosovo-countrys-version-costco
[1] Field Manual 2-22.3, Human Intelligence Collector Operations. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 6 Sep 2006. Accessed 10 Sep 2019, https://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm2-22-3.pdf
[2] Veronica Zaragovia, & Valerie Plesh. “There is one place where Serbs and Albanians coexist in Kosovo — in the country’s version of Costco.” Pri.org. 5 Mar 2018. Accessed 10 Sep 2019, https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-03-05/there-one-place-where-serbs-and-albanians-coexist-kosovo-countrys-version-costco
[3] Ibid Field Manual, 2006
[4] Intelligence Science Board. “Educing Information Interrogation: Science and Art.” National Defense Intelligence College, 2006. Accessed 10 Sep 2019, http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/OathBetrayed/Intelligence%20Science%20Board%202006.pdf
[5] Central Intelligence Agency. KUBARK Counterintelligence Interrogation. Washington, DC: CIA, 1963. Accessed 17 June 2020 http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB122/index.htm#kubark
[6] Ibid Veronica Zaragovia, & Valerie Plesh
[7] Ibid Field Manual 2-22.3
