The flow of exotic, advanced technologies out of U.S. workshops continues to ramp up in anticipation of conflict with Iraq. Planners also are taking steps to ensure that critical information gathered by satellites and other intelligence assets is fed immediately to tactical commanders, rather than risk having it missed by national intelligence agencies. For the past few months, the Air Force has had cryptologists and other specialists at the National Security Agency to monitor signals intelligence as it is collected to immediately judge its tactical relevance, said Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson, commander of 8th Air Force, which is in charge of USAF information operations. Any critical information can then be shared immediately, via a secure chat room, with counterparts at the Combined Air Operations Center in the Middle East. USAF is looking to embed representatives in the National Imagery and Mapping Agency and National Reconnaissance Office.
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