What determines whether or not pieces of intelligence constitute a legitimate threat?

Question

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Answer 1

Generally, someone's opinion.

Answer 2

I am a retired Navy intel communications specialist.

Analysts look at a piece of intelligence for the following criteria:

1. Source. Is this a creditable fact? Did this come from our sources, a friend's, or is this "the word on the street"?
2. Impact. If it is creditable, what is the ramification?
3. Scope. Will this information be useful immediately, or do we just computer file it with easy tags to find it again?

People in analyst positions have to notify their chain of command whenever anything is discovered that may jeopardize the safety or security of their employer, period.

Answer 3

If the information can be used for political gain by those who have the ear of the higher ups in the intelligence community. Most intelligence in the last several years has been "manufactured" to suit the situations that would be of political gain for the ruling party. Pay very little to intelligence gains that become common knowledge. Real intelligence information never finds itself in the newspapers or on the electric media.