No Learning: The Failures from the Intelligence Directorate Fill the TV Studios | Yitzhak Brik, Dr. Ofer Grouzbard
Maj. Gen. (res.) Yitzhak Brik and Dr. Ofer Grouzbard argue that the intelligence failure stems from a lack of understanding of both the enemy and ourselves, and propose a revolution in thinking that includes studying cross-cultural psychology, humility, and awareness of defense mechanisms. They criticize the IDF Intelligence Directorate for arrogance, neglect of human intelligence, and lack of strategic psychological work, and call for a change in the training of intelligence personnel.
In an opinion column in Maariv, Maj. Gen. (res.) Yitzhak Brik and Dr. Ofer Grouzbard analyze the roots of the Israeli intelligence failure. They identify two basic causes: lack of understanding of the enemy and lack of understanding of ourselves. According to them, the Intelligence Directorate refuses to study cross-cultural psychology, leading to erroneous assessments such as the one that Hamas has no interest in attacking. They emphasize that the enemy's thinking, such as that of Sinwar, is based on messianic considerations rather than Western cost-benefit calculations. Additionally, they argue that psychological defense mechanisms such as repression and projection distort thinking, and that recent heads of the Intelligence Directorate were infected with arrogance. They propose methods for improvement, including studying psychology, encouraging free thinking, cultural diversity, and listening to oneself. They criticize the military hierarchy as limiting thought, and the reliance on technology at the expense of human intelligence. In conclusion, they state that intelligence needs psychological tools to understand the enemy and itself, and that currently there is no such understanding in the Intelligence Directorate.