Seeking Iran Intelligence, U.S. Tries Google

With the Central Intelligence Agency busy, the US State Department turned to Google to track individuals linked to Iran’s nuclear development program, collecting names that emerged most often when searching for “Iran” and “nuclear.” Critics question whether a Google search is the best way for tracking down targets for international sanctions that involve limiting their travel and freezing assets. At first, the State Department produced a list of more than 100 names, too many for the CIA to check. The State Department then reduced the list, and the CIA eventually approved a dozen names for proposed sanctions. Lists prepared by European governments and the US both target officials with public involvement in the nuclear program. Britain and France are on board for the resolution, but China and Russia balk. The CIA faced intense criticism over faulty intelligence about weapons of mass destruction, used to justify the US invasion of Iraq. Since then, the CIA has become more secretive, even when dealing with US colleagues, wary of public release of any intelligence reports. – YaleGlobal