Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy - Ludwig von Mises ...

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6.
Modus Vivendi—Yes? No!
Intelligence
Information about an enemy is “intelligence.” Intelligence is
one of the most valuable weapons in the arsenal of a belligerent.
Most intelligence comes in bits and pieces—one fact
here, another there, often seemingly unrelated. In the hands of
an intelligent and capable agent, these bits and pieces may often
be linked and made intelligible, yielding valuable information,
“intelligence.” Th us coordination, analysis, and interpretation are
extremely important. Th e more intelligence a nation can gain
about its enemies—their forces, weapons, and plans—the more
prepared it can be to forestall or oppose an attack. And the greater
advantage it will have in any encounter.
To gain information about their enemies, to observe and to
eavesdrop, warring powers employ every available technique—
spies, telescopes, balloons, radio intercepts, electronic devices, satellite
photography, cryptography, and so on. Th ey seek to intercept
secret communications. Th ey work to expose invisible inks, and to
decipher codes and ciphers, often extremely intricate and complex
ones that frequently are revised and altered. Espionage and
counterespionage are important to both sides in any confl ict.