Meaning: Cofer Black, a former CIA officer and State Department official, made this statement to highlight the distinction between the roles of intelligence officers and policymakers in the realm of national security and foreign policy. In essence, Black is emphasizing that his primary responsibility was to collect and analyze intelligence to inform decision-makers, rather than to directly shape or implement policy.

As an intelligence officer, Black's main focus was on gathering and interpreting information to provide a clear picture of the global security landscape. This involved monitoring various sources, such as human intelligence, signals intelligence, and open-source information, to identify potential threats, assess the capabilities and intentions of foreign actors, and analyze geopolitical developments. This intelligence would then be used to inform the decisions of policymakers, including senior government officials and military leaders, who were responsible for setting strategic priorities and crafting policy responses.

The distinction between intelligence officers and policymakers is crucial in understanding the inner workings of national security and foreign policy. While intelligence officers like Black play a crucial role in providing decision-makers with the necessary information to make informed choices, they are not the ones ultimately responsible for formulating and implementing policy. Instead, policymakers rely on the assessments and recommendations of intelligence professionals to guide their decisions.

This quote also sheds light on the principle of civilian control of the military and intelligence agencies. In democratic societies, the ultimate authority to make policy decisions rests with elected officials and their appointed representatives, rather than with military or intelligence personnel. Black's acknowledgment of his role as an intelligence officer underscores the importance of respecting this division of responsibilities and ensuring that the intelligence community serves as a resource for policymakers rather than as a separate source of authority.

Furthermore, Black's statement reflects the notion that intelligence should be objective and independent, free from the influence of political agendas or policy preferences. By emphasizing that he was not a policy-maker, Black underscores the need for intelligence professionals to maintain their impartiality and focus on providing accurate, unbiased assessments to support decision-making.

In the context of contemporary debates about intelligence gathering and analysis, Black's quote serves as a reminder of the essential role that intelligence officers play in national security and foreign policy. It highlights the critical function of gathering and assessing information to inform strategic decisions while underscoring the need for a clear delineation between the roles of intelligence professionals and policymakers.

In summary, Cofer Black's statement encapsulates the distinction between the responsibilities of intelligence officers and policymakers in the realm of national security and foreign policy. It underscores the vital role of intelligence professionals in gathering and analyzing information to support decision-making while emphasizing the need for a clear separation between the realms of intelligence and policy formulation.