THE CENTER FOR INTELLIGENCE STUDIES

Throughout recorded history, societies have relied upon intelligence to ensure their success and survival. Critically important in past eras when threats were measured in terms of months or even years, intelligence has assumed even greater importance in an increasingly interconnected world where threats are now often measured in terms of hours, minutes and seconds.    

For this reason, timely and accurate intelligence is America's first and best line of defense.

Because effective intelligence ultimately rests upon popular support in our democratic system, we believe it is critically important for the general public to understand the central role intelligence plays in defending the United States against foreign and domestic threats. In a world haunted by the specter of indescriminate terrorism, we believe it is especially important for the American public to have a passing knowledge at least of intelligence collection and analysis, counterintelligence, counterespionage, security, terrorism, and counterterrorism.

It is for this reason that the Founding Board of Directors of the Center for Intelligence Studies defined our mission as one of assisting the interested public in better understanding the intelligence dimension of national security.