There was a time that intelligence estimates were cloaked in secrecy. Peer review, such that it was, was limited to a few analysts with security clearances, analysts that were not necessarily substantive experts. The iconic Intelligence report is the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), a document that is supposed to represent an Intelligence Community consensus. In practice, a recurring NIE might be dusted off once a year and circulated to up to 17 agencies for “coordination” (where “happy” might be changed to “glad”).  With the exception of statistics, estimates were seldom changed substantially before being filed away for another year. Any agency within the Intelligence Community (IC) that might have a factual or analytical disagreement is allowed to take a “footnote” to an NIE which will contain the specifics of any disagreement. An NIE footnote is as likely to be read as the body of an NIE itself is read. Recurring...(Read Full Article)