Which WMU principle requires adherence to ICD 203 Analytic Standards and ICD 206 Sourcing Requirements regardless of classification?

• A. Write for Tailored Reuse
• B. Know Your Customers and What They Need
• C. Timely electronic dissemination
• D. Tradecraft Essential, Not Expendable

Answer: (D)

The main idea being tested is that certain professional standards are non-negotiable and must be followed in all work, no matter how sensitive or restricted the material is. ICD 203 Analytic Standards lay out how analysis should be conducted: clear reasoning, explicit handling of uncertainty, explicit statements of assumptions, and careful use of sources to support conclusions. ICD 206 Sourcing Requirements specify how sources are identified, evaluated for reliability, and documented so others can assess credibility and limitations. The principle that asserts these practices are essential and not expendable means you maintain rigorous tradecraft at all times, regardless of classification. It codifies the expectation that analytic standards and sourcing rules are universal requirements, not optional steps contingent on the information’s clearance. The other options focus on audience, dissemination timing, or reuse, rather than the universal enforcement of analytic integrity and sourcing practices across all classifications.