1. A cognitive radar information network surveillance system monitoring a multi-target environment, said system comprising at least one said radar sensing node, a repository, and a cognitive radar controller, said radar sensing node comprising: a radar transmitter for illuminating a respective surveillance volume of said environment with a radio frequency waveform emitted through a transmitting antenna operatively connected to said transmitter; and a receiver operatively connected to a receiving antenna for receiving echoes from multiple targets and clutter in said environment in response to said emitted waveform, said receiver comprising a digital radar processor for generating receiver information about said environment; said repository being operatively connected to said receiver for receiving and storing said receiver information, the stored receiver information being accessible by said cognitive controller as historical receiver information; to automatically focus system attention on a region contained within a combined surveillance volume in response to an attention request for improved surveillance performance in said region, said cognitive controller being configured to execute at least one action taken from the group consisting of operating or energizing said transmitter in accordance with a set of selected illumination or transmit-waveform parameters, operating said receiver under a selected processing mode, and controlling said transmitting antenna; wherein said cognitive controller is further configured to make selections of radar control parameters including illumination or transmit-waveform parameters, receiver processing modes, and antenna control parameters in accordance with consequences of past decisions as to radar control parameters, stored as additional said historical receiver information in said repository, said consequences comprising effects on surveillance performance figures of merit in said region.