General / Off-Topic Which is more important; evidence or intelligence?

[Minonian]

If we are preventing something, it hasn't happened yet.
If a crime hasn't happened yet, there can't be evidence of it. It's like my relationship with (insert name of any famous actress).

Well? Not exactly. In some cases if it's enters the phase of preparation and planning, especially if that includes other unlawful activity, like creation of homemade explosive devices that too can be a crime.

Remember every time they cached this jailbirds they are not charged with terrorism but preparation of terrorism. Less serious because no harm's done, but still...
They had the will to do so, and they were serious about it, and only did not happened because they are stopped, this is not just a tought.

 

[Robert Maynard]

So which has the greater value?

That that can be corroborated by independent means, in my opinion (that's not to say legal means, of course). My point being that single sourcing of any information leaves the recipients open to falsehood, should the need arise for the organisation providing the information.

 

[Minonian]

(nods) Cherry picking and interpreting in ways what's suits to your goals, preconception.

 

[lysan]

Given the lack of evidence found after intelligence led major military operations, I'd rather that at least some evidence was available to season the intelligence before big decisions were made.

I agree, this one is a hard question, because in general I don't care how they get the evidence, however as you describe we know that most intelligence are out of control.

 

[dannysquid]

The problem we have now is that people are quite happy to swallow the most blatant lies because it's their guy doing the lying. And it actually drives those people nuts trying to believe all these obviously conflicting things. To the point where they can't distinguish between up and down or right and wrong.

Anyways...

 

[Arry]

The problem we have now is that people are quite happy to swallow the most blatant lies because it's their guy doing the lying. And it actually drives those people nuts trying to believe all these obviously conflicting things. To the point where they can't distinguish between up and down or right and wrong.

Anyways...

Again; we are not talking about 'propaganda', we are talking about facts.

I raised this question, because of the way; intelligence gathering is heading. From the 'Snoopers charter' to CCTV on every corner and now there are even microphones, on some of the same street corners. Programmed to pick up gun shots, but can be focussed on individuals or groups.

We have surpassed Orwell's imagination and thought crime; is now a reality. Posting your thoughts on-line, is a natural and common thing to do; millions do it every day, but in many parts of this planet; your thoughts, will get you arrested; including in the U.K and the U.S.