Review of Cases in Intelligence Analysis
There is a new review of Cases in Intelligence Analysis: Structured Analytic Techniques in Action in the CIA journal Studies in Intelligence. The reviewer called the book "a welcome addition." Here's an excerpt:
Sarah Beebe and Randolph Pherson provide a welcome addition to the work on structured analytic techniques in Cases in Intelligence Analysis. Beebe and Pherson both had careers with CIA and have a good sense of intelligence analysis and the pitfalls new analysts are likely to encounter. Cases is aimed at new analysts and strives to teach tools for tackling different kinds of problems. Their book goes beyond similar works focused on structured analytic techniques (SATs) by providing case studies to demonstrate how and when to use different kinds of analytic methods for evaluating information and approaching intelligence problems.
Beebe and Pherson's book is straightforward. Each case provides step-by-step instructions on how to execute one or more SATs relevant to each case. The authors also give an overview of each case's policy context, hammering home the purpose of analysis. Their book will be of most value to those teaching new analysts and analysts wanting to brush up on methods used in the Intelligence Community (IC). Each of the 12 case studies is self-contained, and the examples range across recent domestic and international events. This should appeal to analysts from across the IC, especially those working in agencies with substantial analytical components specifically, CIA, DIA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI.
Some of the names the authors assign to the SATs are over the top, however. For example, starbursting is nothing more than asking basic questions such as who, what, where, when, how, and why. Beebe and Pherson provide a useful chart at the beginning of the book that lists the cases along with the applicable SATs so one can quickly focus on a specific technique. They also provide helpful cross-references to earlier work by Pherson and Richards Heuer, which provides additional information on the various SATs. Many of the chapters, e.g., Who Poisoned Karinna Moskalenko? Is Wen Ho Lee a Spy? Who Murdered Jonathan Luna? The Assassination of Benazir Bhutto, The Atlanta Olympic Bombing, and The DC Sniper seem geared toward political analysts and have a bit of a whodunit feel. Techniques and case studies appealing to economic and leadership analysts would be a welcome addition.
I hear that there are other reviews in the works as well.


