<P> The traditional Intelligence cycle is the fundamental cycle of intelligence processing in a civilian or military intelligence agency or in law enforcement as a closed path consisting of repeating nodes . The stages of the intelligence cycle include the issuance of requirements by decision makers, collection, processing, analysis, and publication of intelligence . The circuit is completed when decision makers provide feedback and revised requirements . The intelligence cycle is also called the Intelligence Process by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the uniformed services . The intelligence cycle is an effective way of processing information and turning it into relevant and actionable intelligence . </P> <P> Intelligence requirements are determined by a decision maker to meet his / her objectives . In the Federal government of the United States, requirements can be issued from the White House or the Congress . In NATO, a commander uses requirements (sometimes called' Essential Elements of Intelligence (EEIs)) to initiate the intelligence cycle . </P> <P> In response to requirements, an intelligence staff develops an intelligence collection plan applying available sources and methods and seeking intelligence from other agencies . Collection includes inputs from several intelligence gathering disciplines, such as HUMINT (human intelligence), IMINT (imagery intelligence), ELINT (electronic intelligence), SIGINT (Signals Intelligence), OSINT (open source, or publicly available intelligence), etc . </P>

Who sets the requirements within the intelligence cycle