This paper outlines the pros and cons of intelligence gathering, focusing on three military events: the war in Vietnam; use of Special Forces in the Philippines; and the war in Afghanistan. Through the course of history, intelligence has been the key to success on the battlefield. Commanders who ignore critical intelligence doom their armies to defeat. Commanders who act on intelligence often become victorious. Gathering actionable intelligence has been just as troublesome as winning on the battlefield. Different techniques offer different intelligence, some legal and moral and some are neither. Either way, intelligence is one of the most critical tools that a commander has at his disposal.

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