Counter-Surveillance Detection Routes Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Counter-Surveillance Detection Routes flashcards as text
What is the purpose of establishing a 'baseline' before executing an SDR in an unfamiliar city?
Answer: To understand normal pedestrian and vehicle behavior so deviations that indicate surveillance are recognizable
Establishing a baseline of normal behavior in a location allows the agent to recognize anomalies — people or vehicles that don't fit the expected pattern — which may indicate surveillance.
During a foot SDR, an agent crosses to the opposite side of the street mid-block. What is the tradecraft purpose?
Answer: To force pedestrian surveillance to make an unnatural crossing that exposes them
An unexpected mid-block street crossing forces foot surveillance to either follow and expose themselves with an unnatural crossing, or stay on the original side and potentially lose the subject.
What is the key difference between 'surveillance detection' and 'counter-surveillance'?
Answer: Surveillance detection identifies if surveillance is present; counter-surveillance actively disrupts or neutralizes surveillance operations
Surveillance detection is a passive identification activity while counter-surveillance is an active effort to interfere with, deceive, or neutralize surveillance operations.
An agent's SDR is interrupted by an unexpected encounter with a known contact. What is the correct protocol?
Answer: Continue the encounter naturally to avoid drawing attention, then abort the SDR
Abruptly breaking off an encounter with a known contact would appear unnatural and may alert surveillance; the agent should behave naturally, then assess whether the SDR can continue or must be aborted.
What is a 'surveillance detection window' (SDW) and how does it affect operational timing?
Answer: A defined time period during which surveillance detection must be completed before a sensitive action can proceed
An SDW is a scheduled time block during which the agent conducts the SDR; if surveillance is not cleared before the window closes, the sensitive action (meeting, dead drop) is aborted for that cycle.
Which human factor MOST commonly causes agents to fail to detect surveillance on an SDR?
Answer: Confirmation bias — expecting no surveillance and dismissing indicators that contradict that assumption
Confirmation bias causes agents to unconsciously minimize or dismiss surveillance indicators because they have pre-decided the area is clean, which is the most documented cause of SDR failures.
In team-based SDR operations, what is the role of the 'rabbit' versus the 'hound'?
Answer: The rabbit is the principal who runs the route; the hound is the surveillance detection team member who observes for surveillance targeting the rabbit
In team SDR doctrine, the rabbit is the principal running the detection route while hound(s) are positioned ahead or behind to observe surveillance assets targeting the rabbit from a third-party perspective.