Knowing One's Enemies: Intelligence Assessment Before the Two World Wars

This collection of essays, edited by Ernest May, examines and compares intelligence assessments by the major combatants of their opponents prior to the two world wars. The lessons remain relevant to the present day. This copy is a former library book and is priced accordingly. It is usually an expensive book otherwise. The 16 essays discuss the relatively primitive state of the respective national intelligence communities, and their indifferent integration into the national decision making processes of each country. They reveal what the adversaries got right and got wrong; there are some surprises with respect to capabilities and intentions. The concluding essay by Ernest May reinforces how often and how easily intelligence may go wrong, even with the best of intentions, and how it may be misused by decision makers. The result, for the reader, should be a strong sense of healthy skepticism about the limits of intelligence and about how that intelligence may be used (or not used) It turns out that process may be as important as technology, and pre-decisional bias on the part of leadership the biggest obstacle to the proper use of intelligence. Highly recommended to students of intelligence. Title: Knowing One's Enemies: Intelligence Assessment Before the Two World Wars Author Name: May, Ernest R Edition: 1st edition Location Published: Princeton University Press: 1984 Binding: hardcover Book Condition: Good, former library book with markings Jacket Condition: Good, former library books with markings Pages: 561 Categories: Espionage, Intelligence & Spies Seller ID: 0825