The job of the military attaché of any country is the only intelligence position declared for it in the country in which this attache works. Intelligence work, in most of its operations, is focused on the external arena of the state, in terms of collecting human or technical information, or in terms of carrying out operations and being present on the ground. Therefore, the tasks of the intelligence component require a hidden identity, unlike the attaché who, through his official public identity, and through his work within the diplomatic bodies and missions, can achieve his country’s intelligence interests, without any reason for fear of exposing his identity or the purpose of his tasks, because he is naturally under the gaze of the security services. The intelligence of the host countries. What are the most important tasks of the military intelligence attache? In the event that the host country is a neighboring country, or is close to potential enemy countries, or is close to friendly countries, the attache has major tasks to carry out, whether at the level of the host country or other countries Most notably:
_ Gathering military information and the defensive and offensive capabilities of these countries.
_ Knowledge of training programs, military colleges and universities.
_ Investigating the armament capabilities of the armies and security forces and their equipment, and whether there is any military industrial sector in them. The major countries, through their annex, are trying to promote their military production, which must search for any loophole and sphere of influence through sales contracts.
_ Establishing a data bank on the senior security and military leaders of the target country.
_ The attachés also have an important role in preparing reports and estimates, through which links can be established that contribute to arming and training their country's forces. In addition to the contribution of these reports during periods of war or preparation for it, through the links of the local military attache, which will help in providing logistical and armament contracting capabilities for the army, not to mention raising the degree of high intelligence coordination in allied and friendly host countries, and raising the pace of espionage operations against the enemy.
_ The exchange of intelligence information remains one of the most important duties of the military attaché, as he officially replaces the director of the secret intelligence station in the tasks of liaison, coordination and intelligence exchange.
How to do these tasks
Therefore, in order for the appendix to be able to achieve the best results in these aspects, it takes these steps, the most important of which are:
_ Formation of a network of relations with the senior military leaders in the concerned country, and an attempt to establish communication with the various leaders of elite divisions and units.
Some countries even ask their military attaches to establish links with NGO's, in an attempt to exploit these links militarily and in security. For example, but not limited to, the US military attache in Lebanon was monitored in one year, participating in many activities, including an environmental activity in the "Nahr Ibrahim" area with an association, without introducing anyone to his military capacity, or the purpose of his participation in this activity!
_ Persistently attending military and official events in the host country, such as ceremonies, graduation of officers, maneuvers, military shows, conferences, arms sales exhibitions and seminars.
_ Acquiring the latest issues of military books and magazines issued in the country, and obtaining books that are used in military colleges and the curricula adopted by these colleges.
_Receiving the military and security bodies and delegations coming from his country, accompanying them and following up the agreements concluded with the host country in terms of training and the purchase or sale of equipment and weapons.
_ Introducing the military and security doctrine of his country, and trying to invest in joint courses and maneuvers, between the elements and officers of the armies of the two countries, in order to promote the culture of his country.
- Establishing networks that work for the interests of his country from different social classes and sectors, especially among journalists, merchants, and others, although it is not one of his declared functions as a diplomatic corps.
