Images taken from an artificial object placed in orbit around Earth or another celestial body.
Although limited by problems of on-the-ground validation, satellite imagery has been used to support accusations of illegitimate detention, notably the Uyghur population in Xinjiang.
The 2003 invasion of Iraq is a prominent example of the misuse of intelligence, including satellite imagery, to justify military action. Intelligence agencies overestimated the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program. Intelligence was presented in a way that supported pre-existing assumptions about Iraqi intentions, potentially leading to biases in interpretation. There were allegations that intelligence was manipulated or selectively presented to support the political agenda of the Bush administration, which was determined to remove Saddam Hussein from power.
The invasion of Iraq, based on faulty intelligence regarding WMD, led to a devastating war with significant human and economic costs. It also damaged the credibility of intelligence agencies and fuelled scepticism about the use of intelligence to justify military action.
The use of satellite imagery in intelligence gathering is a powerful tool but all imagery is subjectively analysed and often without on-the-ground validation (the very reason satellite imagery is being used).
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