Short Answer 
Elicitation is a strategic technique used by Foreign Intelligence Entities to informally gather sensitive information through casual conversations, focusing on psychological manipulation and situational awareness. It involves indirect questioning to encourage subjects to share confidential insights without suspicion, making it more effective than direct or invasive methods.
Step 1: Understanding Elicitation
Elicitation is a strategic method used by Foreign Intelligence Entities (FIES) to gather sensitive information from individuals who have access to classified data. Unlike direct approaches, elicitation focuses on engaging in informal conversations that encourage the target to share valuable insights. This technique emphasizes psychological understanding and situational manipulation to keep the discussions flowing naturally.
Step 2: Techniques of Elicitation
The technique employs indirect questioning that pries loose information without arousing suspicion. Through casual dialogue, an intelligence operative can lead a conversation in a particular direction, prompting the target to inadvertently disclose confidential information. Key aspects of this process include:
- Creating a friendly atmosphere to foster trust
- Utilizing psychological insights to understand the target’s vulnerabilities
- Steering conversations towards subjects where the target may have valuable information
Step 3: Comparison with Other Methods
Compared to alternatives like foreign visits or solicitation, elicitation is often more effective in extracting sensitive information. These alternative methods can be perceived as invasive and less personal, which may deter individuals from sharing information. Elicitation, however, capitalizes on human psychology to achieve results seamlessly, making it the method of choice for intelligence operatives.