The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure:Why Waing Was Not Enough

by: Erik J. Dahl (Author)

Publisher: Georgetown University Press

Publication Date: 2023/2/1

Language: English

Print Length: 232 pages

ISBN-10: 1647123062

ISBN-13: 9781647123062

Book Description

An in-depth analysis of why COVID-19 waings failed and how to avert the next disasterEpidemiologists and national security agencies waed for years about the potential for a deadly pandemic, but in the end global surveillance and waing systems were not enough to avert the COVID-19 disaster. In The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure, Erik J. Dahl demonstrates that understanding how intelligence waings work―and how they fail―shows why the years of predictions were not enough. In the first in-depth analysis of the topic, Dahl examines the roles that both traditional intelligence services and medical intelligence and surveillance systems play in providing advance waing against public health threats―and how these systems must be improved for the future. For intelligence to effectively mitigate threats, specific, tactical-level waings must be collected and shared in real time with receptive decision makers who will take appropriate action. Dahl shows how a combination of late and insufficient waings about COVID-19, the Trump administration's political aversion to scientific advice, and decentralized public health systems all exacerbated the pandemic in the United States. Dahl's analysis draws parallels to other waing failures that preceded major catastrophes from Pearl Harbor to 9/11, placing current events in context. The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure is a wake-up call for the United States and the inteational community to improve their national security, medical, and public health intelligence systems and capabilities.

About the Author

An in-depth analysis of why COVID-19 waings failed and how to avert the next disasterEpidemiologists and national security agencies waed for years about the potential for a deadly pandemic, but in the end global surveillance and waing systems were not enough to avert the COVID-19 disaster. In The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure, Erik J. Dahl demonstrates that understanding how intelligence waings work―and how they fail―shows why the years of predictions were not enough. In the first in-depth analysis of the topic, Dahl examines the roles that both traditional intelligence services and medical intelligence and surveillance systems play in providing advance waing against public health threats―and how these systems must be improved for the future. For intelligence to effectively mitigate threats, specific, tactical-level waings must be collected and shared in real time with receptive decision makers who will take appropriate action. Dahl shows how a combination of late and insufficient waings about COVID-19, the Trump administration's political aversion to scientific advice, and decentralized public health systems all exacerbated the pandemic in the United States. Dahl's analysis draws parallels to other waing failures that preceded major catastrophes from Pearl Harbor to 9/11, placing current events in context. The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure is a wake-up call for the United States and the inteational community to improve their national security, medical, and public health intelligence systems and capabilities.