Prior to 1982 Joint Special Operations Command did not have their own intelligence capability. Leading up and during Operation Ivory Coast (rescue POWs from Son Toy, North Vietnam) in 1970 they relied on civilian intelligence agencies. Fast forward through Operation Eagle Claw (Iranian Rescue Mission) in 1979-1980 and Operation Acid Gambit (rescue of Kurt Muse in Panama) in 1989, the military had their own special operations intelligence agency/capability.Compare and contrast how intelligence and planning for these three operations (Ivory Coast, Eagle Claw, and Acid Gambit) gradually improved over time to include military/civilian intelligence agency relationships and the improvement of the intelligence cycle.
