Article Entry
18 Feb 2009
Comments:15
Tracking Bin Laden and Why Does GEOINT Not Get Consistent Mainstream Press??
Added by USGIF Category: Daily Intelligence Brief, General
The hunt for the elusive Osama bin Laden seems to be the biggest challenge for defense and intelligence sources. However, it seems that we are honing in on him. According to a recent USA Today article, he is most likely hiding out in a walled compound in a Pakistani border town. The source for this story is a research team led by geographer Thomas Gillespie of the University of California-Los Angeles. Here’s the link to the actual report in the MIT Review.
This is certainly very big news. And what makes it even more important is the role that geospatial intelligence is playing in tracking Bin Laden. You may have noticed that John Goolgasian of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) was quoted in the USA Today article.
This brings up a separate but very important item for discussion. While it is very exciting that GEOINT is playing a big role in this story, why don’t we get more mainstream press coverage? Certainly, the report from UCLA is the news peg to make this a mainstream story. However, what we do from a technology perspective, as well as from intelligence gathering side, is very, very important. So, important that we believe that the mainstream media should consistently cover what we do and look to our experts as sources regarding GEOINT, GIS, geography and intelligence.
There are many very smart public relations and public affairs folks behind this mission — from the industry and agency sides. What do we need to do to gain this national mind share? We welcome all thoughts and comments!
Tags: Bin Laden, Finding Bin Laden, Intelligence gathering, MIT, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, NGA, UCLA, USGIF
You need more than PR. You need consistent/constant contact with the mainstream press at a working level. Many who work in GEOINT will find that this will be a problem as contact with the press is often”discouraged”.
The press doesn’t exactly have a stellar record with keeping a lid on things. I’m new to this, but the less the world knows about me and what I do the more under the radar we can operate. If Al Qaeda is reading internet news about which projects so and so organization wants to put money into, that’s exploitable and gives a heads up to the people those projects are geared against. Not to mention our weaknesses as a community and the “cracks in the dam” are posted all over the place. Maybe it’s assumed Al Qaeda already knows the things that we’re saying, but why confirm it for them?
I would like to hear someone else’s thoughts, though.
Hi Patrick…you bring up an excellent point. Many GEOINTers work on classified projects that would certainly compromise the security of our nation. And of course, the media want to get the scoop on all of these types of projects…how about GEOINT and natural disasters? There seems to be less concern about the sharing of classified information.
It seems to me that one of GEOINT’s (and the Intelligence Community in general) greatest strengths is that it does its critical job regardless of broad recognition. As suggested by Patrick and USGIF, media recognition can be a blessing and a curse. In the end, no matter how significant the role of GEOINT in the GWOT and/or the capture of bin Laden, the credit will likely be given to elected officials, who will gladly provide the media with all the meaningful quotes they require even as GEOINT continues addressing its many other challenges.
Nashtele, which brings up another question for me, how big is the gap between policy makers and analysts? How much of the disillusionment between the two is expected, valid, or repairable? Once again, I’m new here, but it seems way more can be accomplished if the two sides can work together despite past bruised egos and reputations. The two groups already speak a different language, but they can’t do their jobs without each other. Or am I asking too much?
If the GEOINT is getting the job done then why is there a need for PR and Marketing? I realize that recognition is good for morale no matter the job. In war and conflict, there seems to be (unfortunately) many of those behind the scenes who are denied recognition – the “glory” is left to the heroes. I think if the intelligence community keeps doing is selfless, good work, we will win this war and recognition will come in due time.
When the intelligence community does find bin Laden and provides a sense of closure for the U.S.S. Cole, the African Embassies, the 1993/2001 WTC attacks and all other attacks, I think that the community will get its “props.”
If GEOINT et al are not getting the public relations right now, it should not be of concern. While a quote in U.S.A Today raises aware of efforts being made, the real respect will be written in the history books. A newspaper article is temporary and local while a history book will reach many for years to come.
“So, important that we believe that the mainstream media should consistently cover what we do and look to our experts as sources regarding GEOINT, GIS, geography and intelligence.”
No way. Keep your cards close to you.
I have to agree with Patrick and USGIF… I am extremely new to GEOINT but when it comes to media I often find myself wondering why we are broadcasting certain things ie: Bin Laden and his possible location. The technology today with GEOINT is amazing and will help us achieve many things. I also agree with Nashtele, regardless of whether GEOINT helps catch or locate it will ultimately be the elected officials that get that “pat on the back” for a job well done. As previously said, I think the media unfortunately always has and always will report only what they believe to be a “hot” item. How unfortunate if you ask me.
Comment from Pradeep Kumar through Linked-In:
If you ask me, to get consistent mainstream press coverage you inevitably have to have a general public interest evoking subject. Ordinary research pieces with limited public interest is not going to get you there. If Brad Pitt announces he has got his kids GPS tagged, it’ll get some good reading, but if you write in general about GPS tagging, ……dont bother about the hits.
Comment from Tristan Sargent through Linked-In:
Probably because the work is classified SCI and higher and they can’t say anything the news would care to print. Now if they could tell us, that would be a different story.
Comment from Michael Morgan through Linked-In:
You know, I’ve just had to grudgingly accept that the things that “mainstream press” qualifies for coverage is haphazard at best. Then again, maybe NGA would want it that way.
Upon thinking about the problem of how to find any one of the AQ heads by viewing one of those vidoes they always put out …
It seems like you just might be able to locate someone by matching topographical features in the background with a known terrain profile of the general area they’re in. Then you realize that by being in a cave or house where nothing outside is visible, there really is no way to locate that internal space. I think there was a news story about this back in 2002.
While this is a very interesting and probably somewhat reasonable approach to finding OBL, I am still pretty skeptical of using “Island Biogeography” theories to establish patterns in humans which actively try to do things counter to what is expected of them! My recollection from a zoology class many years ago is that the theory also states that isolated islands have more extremes in the size of species: so is OBL 100 ft tall or the size of a mouse? Both extremes worry me!
I think that it has to do with policy makers and exposure that they can use to get what they want done. Let’s face it, the IC has to be secretive with things they do because it’s a matter of national security. However, the moment someone (a policy maker, or whoever) decides they want the recognition they deserve or someone wants to get back at the present administration for whatever reason then it will be plastered all over the front page of the NY Times. GEOINT hasn’t been a prime target thus far, but the moment someone says something then it will be open season, just like with everything else. I think this is one of the reasons why they haven’t used it in positive media for natural disasters and so forth. If the media got a sniff of what they can do with GEOINT then they may be digging for clues left and right. It all boils down to the journalist getting “the” story of the moment and who can crack what.