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(S//SI) Doing SIGINT in Pakistan
FROM:
Intelligence Analysis Intern
Run Date: 11/10/2004
SERIES:
IA intern
describes what it is like to work at SCS sites in
(U//FOUO) Intern TDYs
Pakistan, doing both SIGINT reporting and collection (TS//SI)
(TS//SI) For approximately two and one-half months this summer,
I had the unique experience of being able to forward deploy to
Pakistan to work at SCS* sites in Islamabad and Lahore. Although I
had been working as a reporter and analyst in SID's Pakistan
Branch for approximately 8 months prior to my TDY, I was excited
to learn about the technical aspects of SIGINT collection and to
provide support to the variety of SIGINT customers forward
deployed throughout the region.
(U) The author pictured with al-Qa'ida graffiti in Murre, Pakistan.
The building is a long-abandoned brewery built under British rule.
(S//SI) Because this was my first time living and working in a
different country, I was not really sure what to expect once I finally
landed in Islamabad. However, as I met the rest of the team that I
would be working with for the next 74 days, I could see that they
were very knowledgeable and dedicated to their jobs and they
quickly made me feel right at home.
(TS//SI) Because I was already familiar with the target, I was able
to jump into SIGINT product reporting via Local Support Reports
(LSRs) but was also encouraged to branch out into other SIGINT
areas besides reporting. I spent time with the collectors learning
about the various signal types that were collected at the site, about
the signals processing gear, and about various collection systems - I was even able to physically tune in a signal or two using the
spectrum analyzer and dish controller in the site's collection center.
(S//SI) As my technical knowledge increased, I became involved in
evaluating the content of new signals that were being targeted and
collected, examining the various types of traffic being carried on
the signal and then determining where the traffic came from. In
addition to becoming involved in various DNR* collection projects, I
was also able to branch out into the DNI* world, learning about
DNI collection and processing and basic DNI traffic analysis.
(S//SI) Because of the diversity of the target, working in Pakistan
provided me with the opportunity to become involved in a wide
range of projects: because I was forward deployed, I was able to
help provide near-real time support to counterterrorism operations
and was able to help in the exploitation of DNR and DNI lead
information gathered through SIGINT and HUMINT.
(TS//SI) These efforts paid their greatest dividends when one of
the site's terrorist targets who was being tracked via SIGINT was
1. Doing SIGINT in
Pakistan
2. The Only Game in
Town (part 1)
3. The Only Game in
Town (part 2)
4. Eye-Opening
Experience in Haiti
(part 1)
5. Eye-Opening
Experience in Haiti
(part 2)
6. Assisting in the Hunt
for al-Qa'ida
Leadership
apprehended in mid-August. It was quite exciting to know that I
helped play a role in the target's capture and it was also very
enlightening to be a first-hand witness to "SIGINT in action" and to
see how the close collaboration between SCS, NSA, and CIA
personnel can produce real results.
(TS//SI) In addition to tracking specific terrorist targets, I was also
involved in helping to exploit and analyze lead information related
to several threats on the U.S. Embassy itself. Although Pakistan is
not as openly dangerous an area as other places, a real threat does
exist there as evidenced by the recent 28 October bombing at the
Marriott Hotel in Islamabad
(S//SI) While security was a constant concern, I was pleasantly
surprised at the level of freedom that Embassy personnel had and
was equally surprised at the fine shopping and restaurants to be
found throughout Islamabad -- cheap prices, high quality
handicrafts, and numerous large marketplaces made for a suitcase
that was much, much fuller on my return trip than it was when I
departed the States.
(S//SI) Overall, my TDY experience was one of most enriching
experiences of my entire life from both a personal and professional
perspective. I was able to gain broad professional knowledge and
experience that made me a better and more well-rounded analyst
and living and working in Pakistan for an extended period of time
provided me with a unique personal experience that gave me
insight into an entirely different culture that I would otherwise
never have been exposed to.
*(U) Notes:
SCS = Special Collection Service. For further info, see the SCS
mission overview page.
DNR = Dial Number Recognition
DNI = Digital Network Intelligence
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108