Required Reading
Read Lowenthal's Chapter 12: "The Intelligence Agenda" in Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy.
As you read, do some critical thinking and ask yourself:
- The Post Cold War/Post September 11 era changed the focus of US foreign policy and thus the needs of policy makers. What are the implications for GEOINT?
- The era of the Global War on Terrorism has been succeeded by a focus on possible conflict with “near peer competitors” such as China and Russia. What are the implications for GEOINT?
- In the table below, compare and contrast Lowenthal’s priority changes between the 8th, 9th, and 10th editions. Why have these priorities changed, and what is the impact on GEOINT?
Note how Lowenthal’s priorities changed in Chapter 12 between the eighth and ninth editions. He promoted Heath Issues presumably due to the COVID 19 pandemic and concerns over future pandemics. He also made Climate Change its own category.
In the 10th edition, Lowenthal maintained the previous priorities and added Foreign Malign Influence, focusing primarily on interference in U.S. elections.
| 8th Edition Intelligence Priorities (2019) | 9th Edition Intelligence Priorities (2023) | 10th Edition Intelligence Priorities (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberspace | Cyberspace | Cyberspace |
| n/a | n/a | Foreign Malign Influence |
| Terrorism | Terrorism | Terrorism |
| Proliferation | Proliferation | Proliferation |
| Narcotics | Health Issues | Health Issues |
| Economics | Climate Change | Climate Change |
| Demographics | Narcotics | Narcotics |
| Health and Environment | Economics and Energy | Economics and Energy |
| Peacekeeping Operations | Demographics | Demographics |
| Support to Military | Support to Military | Support to the Military |
Knowledge Check
Prepare for the quiz by answering the following questions.