Counterterrorism and Human Intelligence

“Preventive and Protective Measures Need to Be Considered Before Disaster Strikes. There is no use in beating up after a disaster strikes.”

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

What Does Accurate and Timely Intelligence Mean?

How can we know the dangers that will lead to disaster in advance? Will we reveal? It is possible to achieve this with ACCURATE AND TIMELY Intelligence.

Because intelligence is a KNOWING SYSTEM. Foreknowledge. It is a system of predicting and detecting dangers before disaster strikes.

Intelligence is actually like the Elif mentioned by Mevlana; it exists in everything but is not seen in anything. Intelligence is an information gathering activity carried out in all areas of our lives, especially security-related. Information gathering and intelligence creation activity is carried out not only by states, but also by sports teams, companies, etc. It is an essential effort for the organization.

STATES PROVIDE INTELLIGENCE IN ORDER TO EXIST WITHIN THEIR AREAS OF INFLUENCE AND INTEREST, SPORTS TEAMS IN ORDER TO WIN IN COMPETITIONS, AND COMPANIES IN ORDER TO HOLD ON IN THE MARKET AND GROW.

If we were to make a general definition, INTELLIGENCE; It is the collection, comparison, evaluation and combination of data, information and news and the proven news/information obtained as a result. Intelligence; It is news/information that has been evaluated and processed (Analysis/Synthesis).

News/information is the raw material of Intelligence. Every intelligence is news/information. However, not every news/information is intelligence. Most of the time, inexperienced intelligence officers and most journalists, intellectuals and academics are in the habit of presenting news/information as if it were intelligence.

Decision makers, on the other hand, pounce on every piece of information/news put before them as if it were intelligence, like a fish caught on a hook. Thus, decision makers are mistaken and misled and make WRONG DECISIONS. This leads to loss of people, money, time AND EVEN TRUST/REPUTATION.

The purpose of intelligence activities is; To guide decision makers (leaders and managers) to make the right decision by providing accurate and timely intelligence during the decision-making process.

While intelligence is defined as directing decision makers to make the right decisions by collecting and analyzing information, it can also be expressed as managing the perceptions of societies by using methods such as psychological operations and propaganda in line with the policies determined by the decision makers.

Intelligence, as an academic study/process, has been accepted as "SCIENCE" since the second half of the 20th century. In this context, starting from Western universities, academic tendencies towards the subject and education of INTELLIGENCE have increased. When we look at public and private universities in Turkey, it is seen that intelligence, as a sub-branch of international relations science, is included as an undergraduate program in only a few educational institutions.

Intelligence is a branch of science and intelligence production is a scientific process.

On the other hand, we see that there are academicians in the academic community in Turkey who study the subject of INTELLIGENCE academically, although it is not yet sufficient compared to the West.

HOWEVER, we can say that the academic community in Turkey does not consider the concept of INTELLIGENCE as a BRANCH OF SCIENCE.

INTELLIGENCE IS A BRANCH OF SCIENCE AND INTELLIGENCE PRODUCTION IS A SCIENTIFIC PROCESS. This process, also called the Intelligence Cycle or Intelligence Wheel, is “dynamic and continuous”. That's why this process is called the wheel.

THE INTELLIGENCE WHEEL OR, OTHERWISE, THE INTELLIGENCE PRODUCTION PROCESS CONSISTS OF FOUR PHASE:

Phase 1: Directing Collection Efforts

Phase 2: Gathering News/Information

3rd Phase: Process (creation of INTELLIGENCE)

Phase 4: Publication and Exploitation

In the second phase of the intelligence production process, the collection of news, the information and news needed to create intelligence are collected from various sources using various methods, procedures and methods.

That's why intelligence discipline; IT IS A FIELD OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY that includes different methods/procedures/methods, organizations, equipment and systems used in creating intelligence.

The term discipline is defined as the procedures, principles, ways and methods used in science. What we mean when we say “Intelligence Disciplines” is; Methods of Creating Intelligence.

Therefore; “News/Information Gathering Methods”, “Intelligence Creation Methods” and ultimately “Intelligence Disciplines” are the same thing.

NEWS AND INFORMATION used in obtaining intelligence are collected by five basic "Intelligence Discipline" methods. These;

1. Human Intelligence (HUMINT),

2. Image Intelligence (IMINT),

3. Signal Intelligence (SIGINT),

4. Open Source Intelligence (OSINT),

5. Measurement and Trace Intelligence (MASINT).

On the other hand; The characteristics of the information to be collected about the targets determine the intelligence creation method (intelligence discipline) to be used.

During the collection phase, intelligence gathering tools collect news and information BY USING ONE OR MORE OF THESE METHODS AT THE SAME TIME.

Starting from the early stages of history until the post-Cold War period, intelligence was created by collecting news/information only with the "Human Intelligence" discipline (method) within the technological deficiencies of the time.

HUMAN INTELLIGENCE:

It is an intelligence discipline that uses people both as a collection tool and as a source of news.

NATO's Definition of Human Intelligence; “It is a form (category) of intelligence obtained from information provided by human sources and collected by people.”

If we make a broad definition in the light of this information, human intelligence; “It is intelligence created as a result of processing information obtained through various methods using open and/or closed collection techniques, the collection means and source of which are human.”

Human intelligence news gathering tools use VARIOUS METHODS while performing news gathering activities. These methods are:

 Observation and Description

 Discovery

 Interview-Interview

 Leakage

 Provocation

 Inspection-Investigation

 Tracking and Surveillance

 Technical and Electronic Search/News Gathering

 Searches

 Censorship

 Inquiry

Leakage:

Information compilation is a method of obtaining information from anyone connected to the target who has knowledge on a desired subject, without making them feel that the information is being received. It is an indirect method of obtaining information that is frequently used in our daily lives. Since leaking is applied to people who are not aware of what they are reporting, it is a method that requires strength, attention and care. In leaking, it is essential not to arouse suspicion on the other party. If the intention and purpose are perceived and suspicion is aroused, the established relationship may be damaged.

Provocation:

It is a provocation activity undertaken to direct a secret service member, organization or a target person to a designed goal by provoking, deceiving, misleading, encouraging or angering them, or to reveal their situation through their words and actions, or to compile indirect information on a targeted subject and get results.

Human intelligence, one of the basic intelligence disciplines, complements, confirms and supports each other with other intelligence creation methods. As such, Human Intelligence is intertwined with other intelligence gathering disciplines.

Human Intelligence is important. Because:

Human intelligence and its primary source, the human element, are also the basic elements of other intelligence creation methods.

It should not be forgotten that the person who carries out the Image, Signal and Open Source intelligence news/information gathering activities, that is, the person who manages the technology, is also human.

Therefore, PEOPLE are at the center of all intelligence gathering methods.

However, we must also emphasize the following fact here:

With the emergence of technology-based Image (VIEW), Signal (SINIS), Measurement and Trace (OIZIS) intelligence disciplines, the increase in intelligence creation capacities has reduced the importance given to human intelligence.

On the other hand, it is frequently emphasized that new technical collection systems REDUCE TRUST in intelligence elements, that is, human intelligence. It is thought that evaluations made in this direction will be insufficient.

These deficiencies may sometimes occur due to inherent limitations in technical systems. Technical systems cannot take a photo of a plan or document locked in a cabinet. Satellites cannot read secret correspondence, listening devices hidden in pillows cannot ask questions. So with technology you can't see or hear everything.

Because the fact that important deficiencies left by technical collection systems can be eliminated as a result of intelligence creation activities with the Human Intelligence method should not be ignored.

Another thing is; The reason is that technical systems are expensive and can only be directed to a certain number of targets. For this reason, the human factor constitutes the most important part of covert operations. It even predates technology.

Signal intelligence, electronic surveillance and tracking, intelligence satellites and many other high-tech intelligence systems are actually just auxiliary tools.

Because; “It is not technology that wins wars, it is understanding what technology can do and knowing how to reflect it in doctrine to provide advantage.” As such, technology is not separate from humans as an actor; Rather, it exists as a response to his needs and demands.

Ultimately; Information can be accessed in the clearest, most accurate, reliable and fastest way from the person who has that information. To explain with an example, in order to obtain information about an aircraft project that a country is working on, entering the factory where that aircraft is produced and/or reaching an engineer working on that project is much more effective than sending a spy satellite over the region where the project is carried out or using various signal and image collection systems. is effective.

On the other hand, Human Intelligence; In addition to collecting information from the source, satellite, UAV, communication and electronic systems, etc. It is also necessary to make the information collected through technological means more understandable, to confirm it, to evaluate and interpret it.

However, just as each intelligence gathering method has its own advantages and disadvantages, human intelligence also has its advantages and disadvantages. These are issues that have been revealed as a result of past events and operations and have become doctrine. First of all, it can be said that since human intelligence is an active activity, it is exposed to more danger than other collection methods.

At the same time, the reliability of human intelligence is higher than other collection methods, and the fact that it does not require high costs makes this intelligence creation method very important.

Other advantages of Human Intelligence include:

 It can be used in all types of operations: It can be used effectively in all types of operations, from general warfare to unconventional warfare, internal security operations and peacekeeping operations. In some types of operations, it provides the opportunity to access information that cannot be obtained with Communications Electronic Intelligence, Image Intelligence, Measurement and Fingerprint Intelligence or Open Source Intelligence.

 It helps to reveal the enemy's intentions and plans: People's intentions can only be understood from the information obtained by talking to them or those close to them. There is no technological intelligence system or device that reads people's thoughts and feelings.

 It allows the verification and explanation of intelligence obtained through other collection methods: Clarifying or verifying the news obtained through previously conducted human intelligence operations or other intelligence creation methods is sometimes only possible by asking questions to people about this news and talking to people.

 Collection and analysis are possible in a short time: In human intelligence, intelligence production is possible in a short time after receiving information from the news source. On the other hand, for example, in Imagery Intelligence, it takes time to produce intelligence after taking a satellite image or aerial photograph.

 It is effective in all weather and land conditions: It is not affected by weather conditions at all. On the other hand, especially Communications Electronic Intelligence and Imagery Intelligence are dependent on weather and terrain conditions.

 It enables gathering news on intangible and invisible issues: It is the only method of creating intelligence that is suitable for revealing undocumented bribery, corruption and interpersonal connections on issues that cannot be depicted concretely, such as future events.

 No technology required: Communications Electronic Intelligence, Video Intelligence Unlike intelligence creation methods that are dependent on high technology, such as Rating, Measurement and Trace Intelligence, it makes it possible to collect information only through mutual conversation.

It is an effective means of collecting information, especially about targets that are not easy to detect with aerial photographs and satellite images, such as terrorist groups. The only technology necessary for human intelligence is encrypted message transfer devices.

Now let's look at the disadvantages of Human Intelligence:

 The number of news sources is limited: Finding the right person at the right time and getting information is only possible by specialized intelligence personnel.

 It is sensitive to human weaknesses: The training of intelligence experts, their mood, the ability to access information and the character of the news source affect the reliability and timeliness of intelligence.

 Provides minimum control over the news source: No matter how well the news source is managed and managed, it is difficult to provide complete authority and management over it.

 Finding the news source and developing a business relationship that will provide an environment to obtain information from the source may take time: Finding the source from which the information will be provided and developing the relationship so that the source will provide information to the intelligence officer requires time. Especially if priority intelligence needs change, it takes time to obtain resources to respond to them.

 Foreign language knowledge is important: Speaking through a translator not only loses some of the information received, but also makes it difficult to establish communication between the intelligence officer and the source.

 Intelligence may not be obtained on time as planned: The means of collection must carry out a more careful and meticulous work to avoid being exposed. This sometimes causes work to take more time.

 Accessing the mission location or infiltrating the target may be difficult: The vehicle's attempt to infiltrate the source or target is the most important, sensitive and time-consuming phase. Because different people and environments pose a danger to the resource. Therefore, the activity in question requires careful planning and execution.

 Determining the reliability of the tool that carries out human intelligence is more difficult than other collection tools: In addition to the personal characteristics of the collecting tool, its intellectual, material and moral motivations, excessive addictions and obsessions must be constantly filtered for reliability from the beginning. Because working independently makes control difficult.

 Legal regulations restrict activities.

As a result, when the advantages and disadvantages of Human Intelligence are compared, it is seen that its advantages outweigh.

As a matter of fact, the importance of Human Intelligence clearly demonstrated itself in the most important event of the post-Cold War.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the USA experienced its greatest trauma with the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center buildings on September 11, 2001.

With the decrease in trust in human resources, in other words, Human Intelligence, after the Cold War, the September 11 terrorist attack is the most striking example resulting from the lack of Human Intelligence and analysis.

This incident once again revealed the fact that the fundamental element we will use effectively in creating intelligence is "human". As a matter of fact, regarding this incident that took place in the USA, which allocates billions of dollars every year for intelligence activities and has the most advanced intelligence institutions and organizations in the world, all experts, especially US officials, have admitted that the lack of Human Intelligence and analysis is the main reason for the incident. 

In this case; It has been understood that it is more important to use the human element as a means of gathering information by infiltrating terrorist elements, as well as technology, in obtaining intelligence in order to be informed in advance and to avoid being raided.

 As a matter of fact, when the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center bombing incident is examined:

 Although the American intelligence community (17 separate organizations), which has an annual budget of 75 billion dollars, had 33 thousand pieces of evidence before the attack that there would be a terrorist attack and there were rumors of a possible terrorist attack; "When? In what way? By which group or organization? To where?" No precise information or news regarding the possibility of such an attack could be obtained.

 Because people involved in the planning, logistics and implementation stages of an action designed to learn about an activity that is known only by a very limited staff can report the incident. This can only be deciphered by Human Intelligence.

In addition; Lack of coordination and sharing between intelligence organizations, contradictions, failure to take courageous steps, and ultimately failure to make an accurate and timely analysis based on the available evidence/information/news are other factors that led to the disaster.

A senior US intelligence official used the following statements while self-criticizing the incident: "If we had been able to infiltrate a human resource into terrorist groups and organizations that would provide us with information and news and give us a warning, we would not be experiencing this disaster now."

In his evaluation to the press, former NATO Secretary General Willy Claes said; He said that in the incident that took place in America on September 11, 2001, it was seen that terrorism could disrupt the stability of even a very powerful state, and that it might be useful to return to classical methods such as "infiltrating the enemy and receiving intelligence (HUMINT)" instead of advanced technology.

In conclusion; The fact that Human Intelligence, which has become increasingly important after the terrorist attacks that took place in the USA on September 11, 2001, is the basis and also the complement of technological intelligence creation methods, has been accepted in the international community. (Immediately after the events of September 11, Article 5 of the NATO Charter, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all members, was put into effect for the first time. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) condemned the attacks and took all kinds of military steps "in the fight against terrorism." He declared that he was ready.)

The September 11 attacks brought about many changes in the field of security policies and diplomacy in the world. For this reason, this event is described by many as "the day the world changed". On the other hand, the incident in question led to the USA reconsidering the country's security policies and threat perception and making changes.

US security policies have had two main objectives since the 1940s:

1. Development of a politically and economically liberal world order and guaranteed penetration of oil resources.

2. Containment and deterrence of communist forces.

Two more targets were added after September 11, 2001:

3. Transformation of the Middle East.

4. Global fight against terrorism.

(In parallel with this, other innovations; the CIA was reorganized to prevent strategic raids. Northern Command / NORTHCOM was established to protect the homeland after September 11, 2001. The foundation of the establishment of Private Military Companies was laid.)

The Global Fight against Terrorism is the responsibility and primary duty of every state in terms of global security, world order and stability, and the future of humanity.

The fight against terrorism has two main arms:

1. Anti-terrorism: It is a process that should work even when there is no threat yet and includes passive tactics that can be taken to minimize the threat of terrorism.

2. Counter-terrorism: It can be defined as active measures taken to eliminate terrorism.

Counter-terrorism intelligence can be examined in three categories:

1. Strategic Intelligence.

2. Human intelligence.

3. Psychological Warfare/Operational Intelligence.

Strategic Intelligence:

This type of intelligence includes the basic intelligence data of terrorist organizations; It is intelligence created by capturing information about their organizational structures, goals, modes of action, resources, weapons and explosives, and external contacts.

Human intelligence:

This is also referred to as preventive intelligence. Human Intelligence; It allows states to thwart terrorists' current attack plans. At the tactical level .

This intelligence is defined as being aware of the enemy and learning the time and place of attacks planned by the enemy. Human intelligence is also defined as intelligence about the capabilities, limitations and weaknesses of enemies that will be useful for intelligence operations.

Psychological Warfare/Operation Intelligence (Information Support Warfare/Operation intelligence):

It means that states can conduct their own psychological warfare by knowing the details of the propaganda made by terrorists and what can be done as counter-propaganda. For example, knowing the role of leaders within the organizations of terrorist organizations, knowing the methods of recruiting members and the propaganda they use while doing this can be given. Just as the most important and indispensable element in intelligence is human resources,

The most basic method/discipline in the Fight against Terrorism is Human Intelligence. The most effective way to prevent any terrorist or rebellion movement is through Human Intelligence, which provides us with advance warning about a possible event.

Considering the threats to Turkey's security coming from both within and beyond the borders of the country, TERROR is the most important threat and security problem for our country.

Before the 1960s, terrorism was perceived as a threat to order and security in society, and the protection and control of society and the investigation of terrorist activities were considered among the normal law enforcement activities of the police. Armed forces and intelligence services have been perceived as reserve forces or support forces in the fight against terrorism. While in many countries, law enforcement forces are seen as having a primary role in the fight against terrorism and intelligence agencies are not interested in internal security problems, today, with the change in the size, direction and shape of the threat, different threats such as terrorism, drugs and organized crimes have emerged and the use of intelligence methods in the fight against these threats to internal security has become a current issue. has arrived. However, the concept of security intelligence has developed and security intelligence organizations have been established in many countries. As the character of terrorism has changed since the 2000s, the fight against terrorism, and therefore the role of intelligence, has begun to change. In parallel with this, some problems have emerged in the struggle that the intelligence is trying to continue. These problems; This is seen as the fact that terrorism has reached a more dangerous level than before, the difficulty of deciphering and infiltrating organizations, the difficulty of deciphering the structure of terrorist organizations, and the effective use of technology by terrorist organizations.

TERRORISM AND THE NEW ACTORS OF THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM ARE FOREIGN WARRIORS, FOREIGN TERRORIST WARRIORS AND MERCENSES

Foreign Fighters

Throughout history, at different times, we have been faced with people who went to fight in foreign lands with different motivations (for the sake of religion and race) and ideologies. Although various definitions of "foreign fighter" have been made, it is generally accepted as "individuals who are not citizens of any of the parties, who go to the conflict zone from abroad, and who join a group or army in an internal conflict, pursuing a cause of their own, without gaining any material gain."

In order for a group or individual to be called a Foreign Fighter, it must contain three basic elements: "foreignness", "volunteerism" and "having a cause".

These people, who are described as foreign warriors, should not be citizens of the lands where the conflicts take place. In order for any individual to be considered a foreign fighter, he must join a group or army that is not related to his own country, with spiritual, ethnic, aid, rescue, etc. motivations and without any material benefit.

Foreign Terrorist Fighters

However, with the emergence of DAESH and the increase in the number of foreign terrorist fighters, threatening global security with a focus on crime and terrorism, such formations have not been accepted as a legitimate movement. As a result of the increasing actions of DAESH foreign terrorist fighters, the definition of "Foreign Terrorist Fighters" was made for the first time in 2014 with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution No. 2178.

In Decision No. 2178; Foreign terrorist fighters are defined as “individuals who travel to a state other than their own to commit, plan, prepare, or participate in terrorist acts, or individuals who receive and provide terrorist training, including in connection with armed conflict.”

Mercenaries (Private Military Companies)

Financially motivated foreign fighters are "mercenaries". War contractors such as Executive Outcomes and Blackwater, which were seen in conflict zones such as Angola, Iraq and Afghanistan in the post-Cold War period, are the private armies of the 21st century with the motivation to make money. These elements, who have the motivation to make money, are largely not citizens of the conflicting parties. Since they do not act on a voluntary basis, they are not considered as "foreign fighters".

Terrorism and the fight against terrorists are issues that must be addressed separately. While FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM necessitates integrated macro strategies, FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM is a micro field that includes technical security issues.

Turkey's macro strategy regarding terrorism is being pursued with determination and accuracy. However, the deficiencies in the fight against terrorists, especially in the field of INTELLIGENCE, necessitate the search for new methods and working styles. The most obvious and concrete conceptualization of the changing strategic approach in Ankara's fight against terrorism; It is the transition from “reactive strategy” to “proactive strategy”. In this sense, Ankara has now left behind its "wait and see" or "response to attack" methods; It seems that it adopts the approach of finding and destroying the threat at its source.

INTELLIGENCE is a priority before and even more than the operation in the fight against terrorism, as in all combat methods. He who is superior and effective in intelligence also provides superiority and effectiveness in action. Intelligence is to an organization and institution what the five senses are to a human. An operation without intelligence is a futile effort. It is a waste of force and the main cause of wear and tear.

It is a fact that can be accepted by everyone that the first condition for defeating an enemy is to be able to find him. It is necessary to know what those you are fighting are doing and what they are planning, and it should be possible to catch them when necessary. These are only possible with good intelligence. Therefore, reliable, targeted and timely intelligence obtained is the most important condition for establishing contact with terrorists. Especially in this ambiguous and complex environment where the world's most dangerous terrorist organizations run wild within and beyond the borders of our country, decision makers need to make the right decisions and deal with terrorist organizations. The condition is to have professional, trained and experienced troops and NATIONAL Intelligence Units supporting them, well organized and working with modern methods.

Trained and experienced units = Commando Brigades and Special Forces-Intelligence Units = Human intelligence (INIS) Units.

The removal of the FETO militants who occupied these positions after the coup attempt on July 15, together with the use of their own NATIONAL intelligence sources, procedures and methods, increased the real and accurate intelligence support needed in the fight against terrorism and achieved successful results.

Subsequently, we can define 2017 as a successful year in terms of Turkey's fight against terrorism. As a result of taking immediate action following the intelligence obtained in 2017, many simultaneous operations were carried out across the country and hundreds of terrorists were neutralized. It is a fact that increased cooperation, especially between the national intelligence agency and law enforcement forces, and joint operations based on HUMAN INTELLIGENCE have made a significant contribution to this success. "Terrorists exist everywhere but nowhere." The most important issue in the fight against terrorists is to prevent possible actions or action attempts of terrorist organizations by receiving advance warning and preventing them.

The most basic tool needed to know where, when, how and by whom the action will be carried out, and to neutralize terrorists and decipher the actions carried out based on this information, is undoubtedly "Human Intelligence".

On the other hand, another success in the fight against terrorism is the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) with our AWACS Early Warning and Control Aircraft. Our AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) Early Warning and Control Aircrafts (Peace Eagles) entered our inventory in 2014 as 4 (North-South-East-West). It is stationed in Konya. It can detect and photograph all targets from 30,000 feet above (9 Km) to 500 km away. It can transfer these targets to command centers or to the windows of F-16 aircraft. It directs all aircraft in the air and makes it possible to hit targets with the least deviation and minimum error. It can stay in the air for 18 hours. 12-19 personnel work. Can refuel other aircraft in the air

The ability of AWACS to detect terrorist targets and direct our aircraft in the air to these targets, and the successful use of domestic production, both armed (SIHA) and unarmed UAVs in the field, have provided significant advantages and advantages in the fight against PKK/PYD/YPG/DAESH.

DOMESTIC UAVs and SIHAs; The cost of conflict of interests with other NATO allies, especially the USA, has always been heavy for Turkey. In this sense, while Ankara maintains its loyalty to regional alliances such as NATO; It is seen that he has a desire to achieve an "independent" status, especially in security and defense issues, which are of critical importance and concern for survival. He was upset. Achieving this independence did not mean that Ankara would cooperate only with alternative actors outside NATO. On the contrary, while Ankara is diversifying its supplier range abroad in order to prevent dependence on any single source; It is based on the logic of encouraging and encouraging existing and new suppliers domestically. *Thus, Ankara assumed that Turkey would have the means and capabilities to defend itself. As a matter of fact, this assumption has become reality today; A level has been reached where more than 60 percent of the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces can be met with domestic resources.

The operations carried out by law enforcement forces at home and by the Turkish Armed Forces across the border, especially after 2010, around the axis of human intelligence and with the support of an impact-oriented policy, have weakened the capacity of terrorist organizations to take action.

As a result, Turkey's experience and success in the fight against terrorists is very valuable in terms of preventing possible actions, unraveling complex relationship networks after the action, and neutralizing terrorists in the city/rural.

In the next period, the success we have achieved in the fight against terrorists must be transformed into long-term gains. For this reason, it is an important tool to prevent terrorist organizations' militant recruitment policies and analyze their organizational structures.

- With intelligence and especially HUMAN INTELLIGENCE,

- Information Warfare/Operation (Psychological Warfare/Operation) should be our primary goal.

Terrorism and Human Intelligence Activities (British Example)

Other important components of success in the UK's fight against terrorism can be cited as factors such as strong civilian and military intelligence agencies, compatible and coordinated intelligence work between agencies, strict laws being implemented and efforts to expand democratic opportunities.

It is clear that British intelligence has an important place in the fight against terrorism. The rivalry between MI5 and MI6, which was previously common, has been minimized for the fight against terrorism, and a common, harmonious and coordinated working environment has been provided between these intelligence agencies.

It can be said that GCHQ (Government Communication Headquarter), which was newly established with MI5 and MI6 and works with the Signal and Human Intelligence method, also has an important place in the fight against terrorism.

It is observed that successful steps have been taken to minimize terrorist incidents in cities with the "Human-based news network" created by GCHQ. GCHQ (Government Communication Headquarter) has recently been looking for personnel to employ within the scope of Human Intelligence through media advertisements.

The characteristics of the type of person the service is looking for are listed as "being able to deal with different cultures, different people and delicate situations, being able to read the emotions of others, having a natural ability to relate to and motivate people, and being able to work as part of a team for a larger goal."

International Organizations (Terrorism and Human Intelligence Activities)

Now let's take a look at "Terrorism and Human Intelligence Activities in International Organizations and their operations under the name of Peacekeeping-Peace Enforcement, etc.":

International organizations have quickly realized the importance of Human Intelligence in the asymmetric threat environment of the 21st century. Information about states participating in an operation against a foreign country for peacekeeping and support operations within the scope of NATO, UN and OSCE, militia groups, Unconventional Warfare (GNH) elements, intelligence services, politicians and parties that may prevent them from establishing the order they want in the region where they are deployed within the country in question. The need for collection comes to the fore.

UN and NATO INIS Troops

In addition, these states, which serve as NATO and UN forces, collect information about the characteristics of the people of that country, their culture and ethnic structure, all the social, economic and political resources of the country and those who use and shape these resources, and prepare the infrastructure in advance to create policies in favor of their own countries by obtaining intelligence. . The most effective and valid means of this intelligence is "Human Intelligence".

Famous French soldier and statesman Napoleon Bonaparte emphasized that "The information and news provided by a spy stationed in a good position is sometimes more important than a few divisions of soldiers" and revealed the importance of intelligence, and especially human intelligence, for armies.

New Tactics and Techniques in the Fight against Terrorism

The point is agreed upon in the "Counter-Terrorism Reports" prepared by the US national security commission (The U.S. Commission on National Security), as well as in similar reports of countries such as the UK, France, Germany and Israel; intelligence units should give more importance to "HUMAN INTELLIGENCE". Technological developments have facilitated data collection activities, but terrorist organizations adapt to new technologies very quickly. develops countermeasures. Therefore, today, technical monitoring activities, especially for action cells, are insufficient.

On the other hand, the fact that many terrorist organizations consist of cells, hide themselves well, use technology well (without being exposed or deciphered), and take precautions against attacks and follow-ups that may come from the security forces, makes the task of intelligence in the fight against terrorism even more difficult. Good intelligence is the first line of defense in the fight against terrorism, but the complex structure of terrorist organizations is one of the issues that make this fight difficult. Terrorist organizations change their course of action in order to avoid failure in the next step, based on the lessons they have learned from their own failures.

For example; Recently, security and intelligence forces have been using technical means very effectively in their successful operations against terrorist organizations, and terrorist organizations have been using classical and alternative communication methods as a precaution.

Operation BAGHDADI and Human Intelligence

The best example of this issue is Operation Baghdadi's killing by US special forces in Syria. The operation carried out by US special forces against Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the founder and leader of ISIS, on the Syria-Turkey border on October 26, 2019, was a successful operation carried out as a result of the intelligence collected through the "HUMAN INTELLIGENCE DISCIPLINE". It has been announced that the leader of ISIS does not use a phone and moves around very often, so his location was determined through a difficult and top-secret tracking and surveillance method based primarily on human intelligence.

“Terrorists exist everywhere but nowhere.” Based on the statement, operations and intelligence carried out with regular troops are not a short-term, effective and productive solution in the fight against terrorism. The issue that the regular army has the most trouble with in the War on Terrorism and the operation against it is that the ratio of operations performed/contact provided is very low.

In addition, a large number of forces has a negative impact on unit security and effectiveness. In other words, chasing a terrorist group of 10 people by a special force of 15-20 people is more effective and safer than being chased by a commando unit of five hundred people.

On the other hand, US Major General who served in the Iraq operation. İ.Martin DEMPSEY said, “We do two main things in Baghdad; The assessment that "we either fight for intelligence or we fight based on the intelligence we collect" is a confirmation of the dilemmas, problems and difficulties of regular armies regarding intelligence. States that realize this fact are working with professional Private Military Companies (PSA) as well as opposition (anti-regime) elements (pioneering operation with the 60 thousand-strong Syrian National Army) in the Anti-Terrorism operation as a solution to this issue, as structural changes will take time.

Private Military Companies (Terrorism and Intelligence Activities)

Countries such as the USA and Russia, as well as the UK and France, use Private Military Companies along with a small number of regular armies in the fight against terrorism and rogue states.

This company's soldiers carry out their duties based on Human Intelligence discipline and using Human Intelligence methods (Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Battlefield Intelligence, Interrogation, Inspection and Investigation, Interview and Interview, Infiltration, Point operations, Sabotage, etc. Hit-and-run methods). We hear that our country has similar initiatives and practices in this regard.

It has been revealed that the USA is using mercenaries of a company called Castle International in Syria. It has been determined that heavily armed commandos belonging to Castle International, a company similar to Blackwater that the USA previously used in Iraq, fought and trained side by side with PKK/YPG terrorists and collected news/information using human intelligence methods. The Iraq War was the war in US history in which the Pentagon relied the most on private military companies. In 2010, the United States had 260,000 contracted company employees in Iraq and Afghanistan, which was more than the number of American soldiers in those two countries.

Russia, on the other hand, has nearly 7,000 mercenaries belonging to the "Wagner" private military company in African countries, including Ukraine, Syria and Libya. Since the activities of private military companies are prohibited under Russian law, the company is registered in Argentina. It is known that this paramilitary group collects news/information using human intelligence methods in Ukraine, Syria, Libya and African countries, and also participates in covert operations through IKK and Protective Security activities.

Terrorism and Human Intelligence (Türkiye):

It is a fact that the importance of human intelligence is better understood during the fight against terrorism in our country. It is difficult to obtain comprehensive information about terrorists' intentions, desires, potentials and vulnerabilities through technical intelligence methods. This situation once again reveals the need for human intelligence.

Thanks to the close cooperation and bond of trust established between the local people, their security forces and ultimately the state, as a result of the CORRECT-EFFECTIVE and REALISTIC application of information operation methods, especially with the discipline of human intelligence; Both within our country's borders and in Syria and Iraq, by the news gathering elements of MİT, Gendarmerie, Special Forces Command, through Human Intelligence methods, informants, sources and controlled elements determined among the local population, refugees and other collaborating elements, terrorists are able to take control of both the current and the current situation. The activities they will do afterwards are learned in advance, the necessary precautions are taken and the results are achieved more quickly. In this regard, I would like to draw your attention to the news in the written and visual media about the terrorists captured abroad, in the Southeastern Anatolia Region, in Iraq and in the north of Syria, thanks to the successful human intelligence operations of the Turkish Armed Forces and MİT in recent days.

On the other hand, in its anti-terrorism policy of the last eighteen years, Turkey has adopted a model in which hard and soft power elements are articulated. This situation has contributed greatly to the establishment of communication with the public, creating a healthier and more trusting environment.

Again, it is very important to apply information operation (Psychological operation) methods along with human intelligence discipline in the healthy and continuous execution of this policy. Psychological operations methods; Social Development Support Activities (Mehmetçik Schools/Courses - Maintenance and repair of schools, lodgings, mosques, village houses, Representative Military Service for the Disabled, Village Support Practices and similar.

Conclusion and Evaluation

Human intelligence has been an intelligence discipline implemented with particular importance and success in the history of the Turks. It is a fact that National Intelligence and especially the Human Intelligence method have been implemented by us at a very good and exemplary level, starting from the Ottoman period, continuing during the War of Independence and until our entry into NATO.

Since the 1950s, we have been made dependent on the intelligence of the USA and NATO, we have been directed to look after the interests of the alliance instead of our national interests, and subsequently we have left aside the national nature of our own national intelligence activities and looked to others in this regard, and under the umbrella of the NATO alliance, foreign imperialists, especially the USA, and other NATO members. The infiltration of countries' intelligence units into Turkey has caused us to lose the values we gained in the field of Intelligence, as well as falling behind in this field by at least 50 years.

Of course, this backwardness of ours causes us, as a country, to miss great opportunities, to be constantly deceived, to struggle with many risks and threats, to make constant defense expenditures (before the dissolution of the USSR and the formation of the CIS, NATO Intelligence sources artificially exaggerated the threat by creating a redundant army in Bulgaria). and therefore tasking the southern flank country, Turkey, to engage with more force in this direction) has led us to ignore other social, educational and cultural investments.

On the other hand, we are witnessing scenarios in which imperialist countries try to keep our army, which appears to be Turkey's lifeline and apple of its eye, under control, not allowing it to go beyond their own initiatives and orbits, and pacifying it when it becomes unmanageable.

The "Asymmetric Threat", which took center stage in the 1900s, led to the necessity of world countries and international organizations, especially NATO, to completely change their threat perception and combat methods. Since the classical methods and strategies in the Fight against Terrorism/Terrorists within the scope of Asymmetric Threat / Unregulated Warfare have become outdated, new searches have been made.

Expectations for NATO's mission have also changed since the end of the Cold War and especially since the September 11 Terrorist Attacks. Namely; New tasks and missions are being assigned to NATO in regional conflicts and the fight against international terrorism. This causes serious problems between allies with different interests and political understandings.

NATO published the Counter-Terrorism Concept in May 2012. The three basic pillars of the concept are: Awareness, Opportunities and Capabilities and Engagement.

1. Awareness:

The aim here is to ensure and increase the awareness of member states through consultation, intelligence sharing, strategic analysis and evaluations within the alliance against terrorist threats. Thus, alliance members. It is aimed to protect the countries against terrorist attacks.

2. Opportunities and Capabilities:

It is meant to develop the necessary opportunities and capabilities to eliminate the threats in question.

3. Engagement:

NATO's aim is to increase the capacity of allied countries to fight against terrorism at the local level, and to train and organize local elements in the operation areas to fight. (Thus, there will be no need to deploy large numbers of NATO soldiers in conflict zones.)

Currently, engagement in crisis and conflict zones is carried out not by NATO, but by the countries' own initiatives. With this concept, an 'Intelligence Sharing Center' would be established within NATO, which would strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism (it exists in words and planning, but is not effective in practice) and a 'Special Duty Coordinator' would be appointed. Implementation of this concept has not yet occurred. This concept of NATO is AGAIN the same thing. Because military elements will not directly engage in hot conflicts on behalf of NATO. Within the framework of NATO's Counter-Terrorism Concept, it will primarily be aimed at providing intelligence and training, and will mainly be of a logistical support nature.

On the other hand, the failure to implement this concept means that in an environment where individual interests and policies among Allied countries differ, the production and execution of common policies becomes difficult due to the mutual trust problem that arises in this situation. This causes the Alliance to rapidly drift towards uncertainty, where its reason for existence and future within the framework of concrete objectives are being questioned. As you know, Macron says that NATO is brain dead. The USA says why should I give money for the security of Europe?

Giving advice is nothing more than advice. Does the common joke among the Allies, “No action talk only,” reflect reality? Ultimately, NATO appears to be "an organization where everyone has a voice and in the end, what the USA says is true."

If a terrorist organization and its elements, which are considered terrorist by a NATO and UN member country and are even included in NATO documents as terrorists, are described as freedom fighters and respected by some of the NATO members, collective defense (an attack against one or more of the member countries), which is stated in the 5th article of NATO, It will be considered as an attack against all countries.) How can the principle be put into practice?

This principle was put into effect for the first time after the terrorist attack in the USA on September 11, 2001. Article 5 of the NATO Charter, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all members. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) condemned the attacks and declared that it was ready to take any military step "in the fight against terrorism". It's the same with the terrorist attack in France. But as for us, even our rightful and legal action is being hindered, let alone supported. Why do UN Article 51 and NATO Article 5 not apply to us? Turkey, in NATO, on the issue of Terrorism, instead of questioning its NATO membership in the face of the double standard attitudes, behaviors and discourses of some of the alliance members that disregard the principles, principles and rules of the alliance, insistently, without being tricked or trapped; Aiming for and recruiting Critical and Executive Staff at NATO Headquarters should focus on forcing the Allies to engage in advanced intelligence sharing and joint execution of the operation (Article 5 Collective defence).

What should be done?

In recent years, especially in the fight against terrorism, we have all witnessed the positive results of centralization and taking initiative in the intelligence system as a result of the expanded powers granted to regionally established central structures that enable rapid decision-making, coordination, sharing and rapid response.

As we all know, Intelligence; organization consists of knowledge and activity. The accurate and successful intelligence work carried out by our National Intelligence Organization recently is increasing its success rate among the world's intelligence agencies day by day. In addition, the use of foreign countries' impact agents on our country continues with increasing intensity in recent years. This situation now makes it essential to restructure MIT as "Domestic and Foreign Intelligence Agencies".

Hybrid War is the desire and effort of one country to impose its political will on another through political, economic and informational means, without declaring war in the classical sense accepted by international law. (The simultaneous use of regular armies and irregular elements (paramilitary forces, special military elements, terrorist organizations and other illegal structures, etc.) in this war is expressed as another feature of hybrid war.) The purpose of hybrid war is to influence the enemy from a distance without contacting him. The aim is to bring the target country to its knees, overthrow its government, and establish a new government that suits the interests of the target country.

Within the scope of hybrid warfare, strategic level Additionally, I think it is time to establish our ministry intelligence agencies and that this will be necessary and beneficial. Because in today's world, wars and struggles are mostly fought without weapons and using other soft power elements. A country is an enemy to another country in terms of economy, energy resources, agriculture, industry, finance, health, technology, etc. It brings them to their knees by exploiting their weaknesses in their fields. War is no longer a last resort. Therefore, it is necessary for ministries to have in-house intelligence units on these issues. We can give the USA as an example of this issue. You can observe that there is an intelligence unit within every department within and in support of the US intelligence community. Thus, "Strategic Intelligence Surveys" should be carried out JOINTLY by strategic units (Ministries, MIT and General Staff) of countries and structures that are enemies or potential enemies, and their vulnerabilities and weaknesses that can be exploited against national power elements should be revealed, to be exploited when necessary.

On the other hand, our Military Intelligence; It is considered that it would be appropriate to reorganize the Land, Air, Naval and Special Forces intelligence units as one, and to carry out the organizational work IMMEDIATELY by determining the vision, concept and doctrine to eliminate the lack of HUMAN INTELLIGENCE.

According to Kazım Karabekir, Intelligence means, “Receiving correct news in peace and war means spreading false news. A state with ten corps creates the eleventh within the territory of neighboring governments.” In this context, INIS troops should be included in the organization of our military units serving in the border regions. These unions should employ personnel who know the physical characteristics of the geography, the local language and accent of the region, and who are prone to its culture. In addition, there should be constantly ready troops, such as the Russians' GRU and Spetsnaz forces and reinforced border troops, who can meet possible threats after peace, and who are in contact, communication and engagement with the cross-border.

The biggest problem of intelligence organizations in finding suitable agents has always been the personnel who knows the language of the host country. As a solution, finding local collaborators or remaining dependent on the intelligence of the allied country was chosen. Therefore, during the training of intelligence personnel, intelligence and language training should be carried out together, and foreign language and especially local language training should be emphasized.

The possibilities and capabilities of NATO's "Counter-Terrorism and Excellence Center" (Kirazlıdere/Ankara) in our country and the Human Intelligence Center of Excellence in Romania should be utilized to the maximum, and efforts should be made to direct these centers under our own leadership and initiative.

In addition, on the axis of human intelligence discipline against intelligence and black propaganda activities carried out insidiously and openly against our country abroad; Information support operations, lobbying and use of influence agents should be carried out in a more effective, planned and comprehensive manner by competent hands.

I would like to give examples from two countries that do their job very well in this regard; The USA has assigned an officer belonging to the MI (Military Intelligence) class, who works under the control of DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency) and in the field of Human intelligence, in all embassies/consulates and other representations abroad. Similarly, ENGLAND has appointed an officer who works under the control of the British Foreign Intelligence Service MI6 and in the field of human intelligence in all embassies/consulates and other representations abroad.