Actionable Intelligence and National Security Decisions

Throughout American history, commanders, NCOs and civilian authorities that wield the authority to make important decisions during conflict often relied on actionable intelligence to gauge the ever-changing operational environment. Two such security episodes which bring clarity to this charge include decisive events leading to the Battle of Yorktown during the Revolutionary War and the Gulf of Tonkin Incident which became of casus belli for America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Understanding the limitations of unverifiable information used during the production of actionable intelligence during Revolutionary and Vietnam conflicts emphasize the need for military leaders to seek dialectic, as well as, advocacy perspectives during the decision making process to mitigate the predisposition of subjective bias.

Use of deception leading to Battle of Yorktown

George Washington receives due credit for being the first American military commander and executive to understand the utility of intelligence and information operations as they relate to deception. During the Revolutionary War, General Washington would plant American dispatches on British spies regarding preparation of a false offensive at New York, in order prevent a known British plan to attack allied French forces. General Rochambeau, Commander of French Expeditionary Forces in the Americas, would certainly have been subject to seafaring fatigue after weeks at difficult seas. More importantly, his soldiers would not have been able to prepare for immediate battle upon landing (Andrew, 1996). However, Washington realized the potential harm that an untimely convergence could bring and initiated a plan to deceive General Clinton, Commander and Chief of British forces in No...

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