Intelligence can be the key to a military triumph. In assessing an enemy's strengths and positions, as well as adjusting strategies in line with fluid scenarios, accurate intelligence plays a vital role.
In the ongoing war on Iraq, it has been suggested that last-minute intelligence concerning the whereabouts of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein -- obtained either through communications intercepts or insider tipoffs -- prompted U.S. commanders to change course, opting for a pinpoint attack on a government compound in Baghdad rather than a devastating missile onslaught.
For Japan, which has pledged to never again wage war and to fight only in self-defense, intelligence is also crucial for national security, especially in light of North Korea's recent nuclear brinkmanship.