NIE

This is the culmination of your work this term: producing an NIE based upon your initial proposal. In the context of this assignment you are on the National Intelligence Council (NIC) and expected to produce your best approximation of an actual National Intelligence Estimate (NIE). You may find declassified NIE reports to review for inspiration, style, and approach at the ODNI website in addition to the CREST system at CIA that opens up archives of 25 years or more. We also recommend you review the estimative language found in the 2007 Iran NIE for additional guidance. You can also review Chairman Treverton's analysis of the 2007 Iran NIE for background, style, and insight. Although ultimately this work will be your own interpretation and amalgamation of an NIE in structure please do your best adopt a professional style as if you would submit this document while working on the NIC.

As a reminder, you will be expected to produce a briefing of your NIE before it is due. You will be able to make changes or adjustments to the document up until the due date. The briefing should be five minutes with an additional three minutes of questions and answers but speaking time is not to exceed five minutes. Due to time constraints and topic variety some of you will be asked to deliver the briefing to the entire class while others will either record and submit a file or arrange a private briefing with the staff. This has nothing to do with grading or expectations but is designed to present a variety of topical content. We will provide you additional guidance on the briefing in a separate prompt.

Guidelines for NIE Assignment Submission

Length: 12-20 pages of original content not including title pages, bibliographies, or appendices.
Include a Scope Note that lays out for the reader what you are doing in a clear manner.
Font: Times New Roman size 12 single spaced.
Citations: Yes. Although perhaps not on the NIC quite as much as here this is still an academic course therefore we do expect citations in a footnote or endnote form. You may also provide a complete bibliography of works cited at the end of the document and/or endnotes if you so choose.

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