Intelligence Primer: American precision is masking inaccuracy
On a range of issues, including Russia, China, Jihadism, and terrorism/insurgency, there is a problem affecting American intelligence practices as well as policymaking.
Precision and accuracy are two concepts that are often conflated or confused, especially when it comes to intelligence collection and analysis. In broadly assessing American intelligence/counterintelligence efforts and doctrinal approaches, we most often find precision but not accuracy. The disconnect between precision and accuracy becomes more evident …