A atividade de inteligência na operação “Lança de Netuno”: reflexões estratégicas e lições aplicáveis ao fortalecimento da inteligência na Marinha do Brasil

Abstract

After the September 11th, 2001, attacks, the United States launched a broad military and intelligence campaign, known as the "War on Terror," aimed at combating global terrorism. The operation initially focused on Afghanistan, under the direction of the Central Intelligence Agency, where al-Qaeda, under the protection of the Taliban regime, maintained its main bases. Osama bin Laden, the organization's leader and mastermind behind the attacks, became a prime target for U.S. national security. His pursuit, which spanned nearly a decade, involved the combined use of multiple intelligence techniques and agencies, including human sources, electronic intercepts, and imagery obtained from satellites and drones. The CIA led investigative efforts, supported by the National Security Agency, the Department of Defense, and Special Forces. A turning point occurred in 2010 with the identification and tracking of a courier linked to bin Laden, which led to the location of a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. After months of surveillance, Operation "Neptune Spear" was authorized, culminating on May 2th, 2011, with the death of bin Laden and the seizure of strategic documents. Although the leader's elimination represented a symbolic and operational milestone, global terrorism continued to pose a threat. This research aims to analyze the intelligence strategies employed in the operation, the agencies involved, and their strategic implications. The methodology used is based on a bibliographic review of official documents, technical reports, and expert analyses. It concludes that interagency integration and the coordinated use of different forms of intelligence were essential elements for the mission's success, reaffirming the role of intelligence as a vital instrument for national security.