A number of studies indicate that the nature of the intelligence requirements were very different in the Cuban Missile Crisis due to the overall international political situation at that time. Examining this, various authors attest to the fact that the cold war environment was much more clear-cut and that the intentions of the opposing groups were more obvious. This led to a specific form of intelligence gathering and analysis which was therefore more focused and directed during the Cuban incident than was to later be the case with regard to the 9/11 situation. The intelligence factors surrounding the 9/11 attacks were less obvious with no definite and easily discernable enemy to

...U.S. officials downplayed possible "enemy" military action in favor of more pressing realities elsewhere. They neglected, minimized, or patronized the opponent's intentions and capabilities for political, racial, cultural, or bureaucratic reasons."

This view points to an essential aspect of what is meant by intelligence and the failure of certain types of intelligence to ascertain and predict events beforehand. In this sense, intelligence refers to a broader context and understanding of international affairs and opinions that poosibly are the background to both the 9/11 tragedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Intelligence was therefore flawed in terms of a deeper and more subtle comprehension of influential political and cultural factors. This view sees politics and overseas decisions in the world as underlying these events. In the estimation of some commentators, a wide ranging and inclusive intelligence system would possibly have for prevented 9/11.

It should also be pointed out at the outset that some commentators view a comparison between the two historical incidents as being somewhat uneven in significance. From this perspective critics see the Cuban Crisis as much more severe than anything that had occurred since as it could have led to the reality of nuclear war.

While the National Security Act of 1947 gave the Director of the CIA (in his role as Director of Central Intelligence, or DCI) the overall responsibility for coordination of U.S. intelligence, he was given no direct control over the resources, personnel, or budgets of other agencies. Juggling competing priorities, differing corporate cultures, and smoothing over the inevitable inter-agency rivalries was (and remains today) a difficult task.

After the Cuban Crisis and the end of the cold war there was a attitude that persisted in the intelligence community which tended to concentrate on other political and international facets rather then any potential strike against the United States. In a sense after the cold war it was felt that there could be little real threat to the security of the United States.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2252
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)