Vetting Strategy the Purpose of This Report

Vetting Strategy

The purpose of this report is to culminate the previous two assignments, using the source profile and subsequent vetting plan. This report will determine the reliability and usefulness of the previously discussed intelligence source. Taken from the perspective of a HUMINT officer, this report will include the issues revolving around the source and how to incorporate any possible information this source has to offer into describing the larger intelligence picture.

This report will include the necessary steps of a vetting plan that will minimize risk and maximize results.

Vetting Issues

The information presented about Allen Jones creates some important questions in terms of vetting him as a reliable source of information. Jones is a complicated figure with many emotional issues. He is well connected within the underground libertarian movement and is surrounded by many seemingly important sources of information. His family background suggests that his father's suicide after his career within the intelligence community is a large motivating factor for Allen's political activity.

Another important issue dealing with this case is the high profile personality that Jones displays. He is quite famous in some libertarian and political circles making him a focus point for many different agendas within that alternative community. His radio show and media outlet is home to many interesting and derisive theories regarding politics and news. Jones' emotional condition signifies that he is very suspect to events that trigger deep personal events.

2.Vetting Strategy

As a result of the intelligence failures experienced in the lead up to the Iraq war, new directives have been developed to shape vetting strategies. The White House released a Adjudicative Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for Access to Classified Information late in 2005 to highlight this strategic shift. In summary this directive gives guidelines that "apply to persons being considered for initial or continued eligibility for access to classified information."

These guidelines are designed to ensure that nuances of human nature are understood so as to recognize the value in maintaining a worthwhile relationship.

a. Conducting Vetting Actions

The first issue to determine is how much vetting is necessary in this case. There appear to be several different levels of sensitivity for information and access to all of these levels needs to be in accordance with a direct need to that access. In other words, this relationship should remain on a "need to know basis." The greater access to classified information the stricter the vetting process should be. In this case Jones should not be trusted with too much as he is in a position to exploit this information and use it for nefarious reasons, counterproductive to my mission.

Vetting techniques in this case should include some very rudimentary but important steps that should not be overlooked. Disclosure forms should be mandated to Jones to legally bind him to his actions. This form should include family background, past experiences, health, use of drugs and alcohol, political views and hobbies. This information is a preliminary test to ensure that Jones is indeed serious and honest about helping me and my mission.

b. Desired Outcomes

The desired outcome in this vetting process is determine trust and honesty while identifying personal quirks that may indicate deception. The ability to have Jones' information corroborated with other sources is also very desirable in this case. Trusting Jones is not so much the issue as the reliability of his information is paramount. Removing emotional attachments and relying on objective data is the main goal for this vetting process. Each source Jones mentions should also be vetted to the utmost if the resources are available and it pertains to the mission in a significant way.