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09 Mar 2009

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Using Science to Find Bin Laden; USGIF Featured in Boston Globe Story

Added by USGIF Category: Daily Intelligence Brief, General

You all may recall the got geoint? story about the use of science and technology to track down the ever elusive Bin Laden. We also pondered the great question as to why GEOINT does not typically get mainstream press coverage. As our friends at Direction Magazine’s APB blog pointed out today, the concept of “GEOINT” did garner some mainstream coverage today with the President of USGIF being quoted in a Boston Globe story.

Obviously, we are very excited about the opportunity for “GEOINT” to be included in a mainstream story like the Boston Globe piece. To go back to our original discussion about us — as GEOINT professionals — not getting much mainstream coverage, we wanted to pull our some great comments from our original story on Feb 18:

“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?”
- Patrick

“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

“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.”
- War Games

“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.”
- Faith

What do you all think? While we did cover the concept fairly extensively last month, we welcome more comments…especially in light of the fact that USGIF/GEOINT did make it into the recent Boston Globe story.

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