David OMAND | King's College London (original) (raw)
Papers by David OMAND
National Security Intelligence and Ethics
Terrorism and Political Violence
This chapter first describes the importance of secret intelligence in protecting the public from ... more This chapter first describes the importance of secret intelligence in protecting the public from terrorist attacks. The use of intelligence in deriving the strategic aim of the integrated U.K. counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, and supporting its delivery is examined. The ethical issues associated with the general practice of secret intelligence are identified by referencing the Just War tradition establishing ethical restraints on armed conflict. Parallels are drawn to derive jus ad intelligentiam and jus in intelligentio ethical concepts to govern the acquisition and use of secret intelligence. The chapter concludes by applying these ideas to the techniques currently in use for counterterrorism, especially the role of digital intelligence gathering today in helping uncover terrorist networks and frustrate attacks. Specific areas of counterterrorism work that nevertheless continue to raise significant ethical issues are identified.
The City Between Freedom and Security
The British population has been greatly affected by the rapid evolution in information and commun... more The British population has been greatly affected by the rapid evolution in information and communications technology. In this digital society, we all leave extensive traces of our behaviour and interactions in the course of our normal, everyday lives. We have unprecedented opportunities to express ourselves, to connect and share knowledge, to be prosperous and inventive. At the same time, the digital society also presents new challenges, making citizens potential targets for fraudsters, criminals and possibly terrorists. The task for the police and SIAs has become more demanding as they try to stay abreast of rapid technological innovation and deal with threats that emanate from across the globe. It is important to ensure that the powers granted to these agencies to protect the public are explicit, comprehensible, and are seen to be both lawful and consistent with democratic values. The citizen’s right to privacy online as offline – and what constitutes a ‘justifiable’ level of intr...
International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence
Intelligence and National Security
Oxford Scholarship Online
This chapter explores a key facet of Freedman’s life as an academic – his work with policymakers ... more This chapter explores a key facet of Freedman’s life as an academic – his work with policymakers and the scholarly connections between King’s College London and Whitehall that he developed. It explores the utility of academic research to policymakers, concluding that much of it has the potential to be of value. However, part of the problem is that the pace of life for politicians and civil servants is relentless, and the need for experts is often driven by unanticipated events. The relationship between the academy and policy makers can have genuine benefits, but isn’t always easy, particularly when evidence bases go against political will as was the case with ‘soft’ drugs. The chapter concludes by recognizing the role played by Freedman in pioneering links between Whitehall and the academy.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 03071848908445381, Mar 20, 2008
Camb Rev Int Aff, 2006
Pre-emptive intelligence is seen as key to enabling the state to counter terrorism without aliena... more Pre-emptive intelligence is seen as key to enabling the state to counter terrorism without alienating the minority communities from whom the terrorists hope to gain support. The international nature of jihadist terrorism is placing increasing demands on intelligence agencies to cooperate with new partners overseas and to extend their range of methods, human and technical, to acquire such intelligence. This pressure is creating ethical dilemmas for the agencies at a time when the methods of secret intelligence and their impact on individual rights are the subject of public controversy. This article discusses the implications of the requirement to produce and share actionable high-value intelligence, and suggests a set of ethical guidelines for the British intelligence community. These guidelines aim to help sustain public confidence in intelligence work and in the directions in which this work must develop in order to generate the pre-emptive intelligence needed for public security.
Forecasting, Warning and Responding to Transnational Risks, 2011
Illusions of Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism, 2015
Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century, 2016
Journal of Terrorism Research, 2012
Intelligence and National Security, 2014
The RUSI Journal, 2003
Taken together, these factors mean that the environment within which we operate is less predictab... more Taken together, these factors mean that the environment within which we operate is less predictable, and contains greater risk. The campaign against terrorism is not a short-term thing. Combating terrorism will be a long haul, and will never be straightforward because ...
Current Research and Future Prospects, 2009
The RUSI Journal, 1996
The issue of nuclear deterrence has somewhat fallen off under the changed circumstances of the en... more The issue of nuclear deterrence has somewhat fallen off under the changed circumstances of the end of the Cold War. When it does arise, it is usually in the guise of public debate on the risks of weaponry, as with the protests against French nuclear testing, rather than an understanding of the continuing security advantages. Here David Omand explores the question of whether the age of deterrence has now gone, coming down firmly on the side of the need for an effective, evolved deterrent strategy with reductions in arsenals being implemented along‐side effective multilateral relationships and as circumstances allow. Only in this way can a credible and effective nuclear forced be ensured to maintain security and stability.
National Security Intelligence and Ethics
Terrorism and Political Violence
This chapter first describes the importance of secret intelligence in protecting the public from ... more This chapter first describes the importance of secret intelligence in protecting the public from terrorist attacks. The use of intelligence in deriving the strategic aim of the integrated U.K. counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, and supporting its delivery is examined. The ethical issues associated with the general practice of secret intelligence are identified by referencing the Just War tradition establishing ethical restraints on armed conflict. Parallels are drawn to derive jus ad intelligentiam and jus in intelligentio ethical concepts to govern the acquisition and use of secret intelligence. The chapter concludes by applying these ideas to the techniques currently in use for counterterrorism, especially the role of digital intelligence gathering today in helping uncover terrorist networks and frustrate attacks. Specific areas of counterterrorism work that nevertheless continue to raise significant ethical issues are identified.
The City Between Freedom and Security
The British population has been greatly affected by the rapid evolution in information and commun... more The British population has been greatly affected by the rapid evolution in information and communications technology. In this digital society, we all leave extensive traces of our behaviour and interactions in the course of our normal, everyday lives. We have unprecedented opportunities to express ourselves, to connect and share knowledge, to be prosperous and inventive. At the same time, the digital society also presents new challenges, making citizens potential targets for fraudsters, criminals and possibly terrorists. The task for the police and SIAs has become more demanding as they try to stay abreast of rapid technological innovation and deal with threats that emanate from across the globe. It is important to ensure that the powers granted to these agencies to protect the public are explicit, comprehensible, and are seen to be both lawful and consistent with democratic values. The citizen’s right to privacy online as offline – and what constitutes a ‘justifiable’ level of intr...
International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence
Intelligence and National Security
Oxford Scholarship Online
This chapter explores a key facet of Freedman’s life as an academic – his work with policymakers ... more This chapter explores a key facet of Freedman’s life as an academic – his work with policymakers and the scholarly connections between King’s College London and Whitehall that he developed. It explores the utility of academic research to policymakers, concluding that much of it has the potential to be of value. However, part of the problem is that the pace of life for politicians and civil servants is relentless, and the need for experts is often driven by unanticipated events. The relationship between the academy and policy makers can have genuine benefits, but isn’t always easy, particularly when evidence bases go against political will as was the case with ‘soft’ drugs. The chapter concludes by recognizing the role played by Freedman in pioneering links between Whitehall and the academy.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 03071848908445381, Mar 20, 2008
Camb Rev Int Aff, 2006
Pre-emptive intelligence is seen as key to enabling the state to counter terrorism without aliena... more Pre-emptive intelligence is seen as key to enabling the state to counter terrorism without alienating the minority communities from whom the terrorists hope to gain support. The international nature of jihadist terrorism is placing increasing demands on intelligence agencies to cooperate with new partners overseas and to extend their range of methods, human and technical, to acquire such intelligence. This pressure is creating ethical dilemmas for the agencies at a time when the methods of secret intelligence and their impact on individual rights are the subject of public controversy. This article discusses the implications of the requirement to produce and share actionable high-value intelligence, and suggests a set of ethical guidelines for the British intelligence community. These guidelines aim to help sustain public confidence in intelligence work and in the directions in which this work must develop in order to generate the pre-emptive intelligence needed for public security.
Forecasting, Warning and Responding to Transnational Risks, 2011
Illusions of Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism, 2015
Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century, 2016
Journal of Terrorism Research, 2012
Intelligence and National Security, 2014
The RUSI Journal, 2003
Taken together, these factors mean that the environment within which we operate is less predictab... more Taken together, these factors mean that the environment within which we operate is less predictable, and contains greater risk. The campaign against terrorism is not a short-term thing. Combating terrorism will be a long haul, and will never be straightforward because ...
Current Research and Future Prospects, 2009
The RUSI Journal, 1996
The issue of nuclear deterrence has somewhat fallen off under the changed circumstances of the en... more The issue of nuclear deterrence has somewhat fallen off under the changed circumstances of the end of the Cold War. When it does arise, it is usually in the guise of public debate on the risks of weaponry, as with the protests against French nuclear testing, rather than an understanding of the continuing security advantages. Here David Omand explores the question of whether the age of deterrence has now gone, coming down firmly on the side of the need for an effective, evolved deterrent strategy with reductions in arsenals being implemented along‐side effective multilateral relationships and as circumstances allow. Only in this way can a credible and effective nuclear forced be ensured to maintain security and stability.