Cipher Brief Stories

National Security Science: Earthquake or Nuclear Test?

August 20, 2019 | The Cipher Brief

With ongoing and often frustrating nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea and heightened tensions between nuclear neighbors India and Pakistan over Kashmir, having a clear picture of a nation's ...

Fine Print

Walter Pincus

The Army's Cyber Teams of the Future

August 20, 2019 | Walter Pincus

OPINION -- The U.S. Army is working on major changes in doctrine, organization and training “to develop a force that can effectively engage great-power competitors, such as Russia and China, ...
Cipher Brief Expert View
Rodney Faraon

What Could Prompt Chinese Intervention in Hong Kong?

August 16, 2019 | Rodney Faraon

Protestors in Hong Kong are sticking by their demands which include a formal withdrawal of an extradition bill that launched protestors onto the streets earlier this summer; the release of protestors ...

Dead Drop: August 16

August 16, 2019 | Anonymous

DNI SWEEPSTAKES: If everything goes as planned (which it almost never does these days) as you read this, the nation will have a new acting Director of National Intelligence, retired Vice ...
Opinion
Steven Ward

An Intelligence Officer's Guide to Dissent

August 15, 2019 | Steven Ward

(Editor's note - Thursday, August 15 is the last day of work for Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and his Principal Deputy Director Susan Gordon.  Coats turned in his ...
Opinion
Emile Nakhleh

The Growing Threat of Domestic Terrorism

August 15, 2019 | Emile Nakhleh

The Cipher Brief is bringing you a range of perspectives this week on the threat of domestic terrorism and what a range of experts say should be done about it. ...

Countering Violent Extremism in the United States

August 14, 2019 | The Cipher Brief

The U.S. has been fighting a global network of violent Islamic extremist organizations like ISIS and Al-Qaeda for close to 20 years, but as the U.S. continues to experience mass ...

Author Interview

Under Cover
Phil Mudd

What Really Happened at CIA Black Sites

August 13, 2019 | Phil Mudd

Former CIA and FBI official Phil Mudd knows a lot of details you probably don't about CIA black sites.  He knows, because he was associated with the enhanced interrogation program ...

Fine Print

Walter Pincus

Strzok Case Looks at Privacy versus Politics

August 12, 2019 | Walter Pincus

OPINION -- The alleged Privacy Act violation by Trump administration officials in publicly disclosing former FBI Special Agent Peter Strzok’s personal text messages without his permission as described in his ...

Cipher Brief Experts Weigh in on Gordon's Departure

August 09, 2019 | The Cipher Brief

The resignation of both Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and his deputy Susan Gordon, both taking effect on August 15th, mean big changes are underway at the top of ...
State Secrets
Suzanne Kelly

Sue Gordon's Rock and a Hard Place

August 09, 2019 | Suzanne Kelly

One of the country’s leading Intelligence professionals made her way quietly to the White House late Thursday afternoon to deliver her letter of resignation to the Oval office. The message, ...

India's Dangerous Move in Kashmir

August 09, 2019 | Tim Willasey-Wilsey

The Indian-administered area of Kashmir has been on lockdown since the Indian government said earlier this week that it was revoking the region of its special constitutional status.  That special ...
Cipher Brief Expert View
Joseph DeTrani

Kim Jung Un's Hubris

August 08, 2019 | Joseph DeTrani

North Korean leader Kim Jung Un’s recent actions were disturbing – and potentially dangerous.   After two summits with President Donald Trump and an historic June 30th meeting at the DMZ, ...

Where Will Protests Lead Hong Kong?

August 07, 2019 | The Cipher Brief

The director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs office says the city is experiencing its worst crisis since the colony returned to China from British rule in 1997 after ...
Cipher Brief Expert View
Emile Nakhleh

MbS' Influence in the Middle East and Beyond

August 07, 2019 | Emile Nakhleh

Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammad bin Salman (MbS) finds himself in an interesting situation these days with his influence waning throughout the Middle East, and still feeling ...

Fine Print

Walter Pincus

No Intermediate Arms Race Needed

August 06, 2019 | Walter Pincus

OPINION -- The U.S. has a triad of strategic nuclear weapons, air-launched from bombers, sea-launched from submarines, and land-based intercontinental missiles launched from underground silos. There is a reason. The ...

Stopping Violent Extremism

August 06, 2019 | The Cipher Brief

This weekend’s back to back shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio highlight, in the deadliest way, growing concerns that the U.S. is fighting its own extremism problem. As ...

Keeping NYC Connected and Safe: A CIG Conversation with NYC's CISO

July 31, 2019 | The Cipher Brief

The Cyber Initiatives Group is a group of public - private and academic thought leaders who share their unique expertise with the greater cyber community through a series of CIG webcasts ...

NSA's New Directorate Expected to Strengthen Offensive Capabilities

July 29, 2019 | The Cipher Brief

NSA Director General Paul Nakasone announced last week that he is creating a new cybersecurity directorate that will focus on – among other things – aligning the agency’s resources on ...

New Lessons Lead to New War Plans for India and Pakistan

July 24, 2019 | Tim Willasey-Wilsey

India believes it won the hostilities which followed the Pulwama attack in February 2019. According to New Delhi the attack on Balakot not only punished Pakistan for hosting terrorists on ...

Iran, Tankers and the Threat of Greater Destruction

July 21, 2019 | Steven Ward

New audio of the seizure of a British-flagged tanker indicates the vessel was too far away from help to avoid being forced to change course by Iranian Paramilitary forces last ...

Iran's State of Play

July 16, 2019 | Norman T. Roule

Tensions remain high between Iran and several EU countries, even after some of the primary signatories to the 2015 nuclear agreement vowed their continued support this week, offering Iran an ...
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Members-Only Briefs & Analysis

National Security Science: Earthquake or Nuclear Test?

August 20, 2019 | The Cipher Brief

With ongoing and often frustrating nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea and heightened tensions between nuclear neighbors India and Pakistan over Kashmir, having a clear picture of a nation's ...

Dead Drop: August 16

August 16, 2019 | Anonymous

DNI SWEEPSTAKES: If everything goes as planned (which it almost never does these days) as you read this, the nation will have a new acting Director of National Intelligence, retired Vice ...

Countering Violent Extremism in the United States

August 14, 2019 | The Cipher Brief

The U.S. has been fighting a global network of violent Islamic extremist organizations like ISIS and Al-Qaeda for close to 20 years, but as the U.S. continues to experience mass ...

Cipher Brief Experts Weigh in on Gordon's Departure

August 09, 2019 | The Cipher Brief

The resignation of both Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and his deputy Susan Gordon, both taking effect on August 15th, mean big changes are underway at the top of ...

India's Dangerous Move in Kashmir

August 09, 2019 | Tim Willasey-Wilsey

The Indian-administered area of Kashmir has been on lockdown since the Indian government said earlier this week that it was revoking the region of its special constitutional status.  That special ...

Where Will Protests Lead Hong Kong?

August 07, 2019 | The Cipher Brief

The director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs office says the city is experiencing its worst crisis since the colony returned to China from British rule in 1997 after ...

Stopping Violent Extremism

August 06, 2019 | The Cipher Brief

This weekend’s back to back shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio highlight, in the deadliest way, growing concerns that the U.S. is fighting its own extremism problem. As ...

Keeping NYC Connected and Safe: A CIG Conversation with NYC's CISO

July 31, 2019 | The Cipher Brief

The Cyber Initiatives Group is a group of public - private and academic thought leaders who share their unique expertise with the greater cyber community through a series of CIG webcasts ...

NSA's New Directorate Expected to Strengthen Offensive Capabilities

July 29, 2019 | The Cipher Brief

NSA Director General Paul Nakasone announced last week that he is creating a new cybersecurity directorate that will focus on – among other things – aligning the agency’s resources on ...

New Lessons Lead to New War Plans for India and Pakistan

July 24, 2019 | Tim Willasey-Wilsey

India believes it won the hostilities which followed the Pulwama attack in February 2019. According to New Delhi the attack on Balakot not only punished Pakistan for hosting terrorists on ...

Iran, Tankers and the Threat of Greater Destruction

July 21, 2019 | Steven Ward

New audio of the seizure of a British-flagged tanker indicates the vessel was too far away from help to avoid being forced to change course by Iranian Paramilitary forces last ...

Iran's State of Play

July 16, 2019 | Norman T. Roule

Tensions remain high between Iran and several EU countries, even after some of the primary signatories to the 2015 nuclear agreement vowed their continued support this week, offering Iran an ...
Get More Briefs

Columns and Op‑Eds

Fine Print

Walter Pincus

The Army's Cyber Teams of the Future

August 20, 2019 | Walter Pincus

OPINION -- The U.S. Army is working on major changes in doctrine, organization and training “to develop a force that can effectively engage great-power competitors, such as Russia and China, ...
Cipher Brief Expert View
Rodney Faraon

What Could Prompt Chinese Intervention in Hong Kong?

August 16, 2019 | Rodney Faraon

Protestors in Hong Kong are sticking by their demands which include a formal withdrawal of an extradition bill that launched protestors onto the streets earlier this summer; the release of protestors ...
Opinion
Steven Ward

An Intelligence Officer's Guide to Dissent

August 15, 2019 | Steven Ward

(Editor's note - Thursday, August 15 is the last day of work for Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and his Principal Deputy Director Susan Gordon.  Coats turned in his ...
Opinion
Emile Nakhleh

The Growing Threat of Domestic Terrorism

August 15, 2019 | Emile Nakhleh

The Cipher Brief is bringing you a range of perspectives this week on the threat of domestic terrorism and what a range of experts say should be done about it. ...

Author Interview

Under Cover
Phil Mudd

What Really Happened at CIA Black Sites

August 13, 2019 | Phil Mudd

Former CIA and FBI official Phil Mudd knows a lot of details you probably don't about CIA black sites.  He knows, because he was associated with the enhanced interrogation program ...

Fine Print

Walter Pincus

Strzok Case Looks at Privacy versus Politics

August 12, 2019 | Walter Pincus

OPINION -- The alleged Privacy Act violation by Trump administration officials in publicly disclosing former FBI Special Agent Peter Strzok’s personal text messages without his permission as described in his ...
State Secrets
Suzanne Kelly

Sue Gordon's Rock and a Hard Place

August 09, 2019 | Suzanne Kelly

One of the country’s leading Intelligence professionals made her way quietly to the White House late Thursday afternoon to deliver her letter of resignation to the Oval office. The message, ...
Cipher Brief Expert View
Joseph DeTrani

Kim Jung Un's Hubris

August 08, 2019 | Joseph DeTrani

North Korean leader Kim Jung Un’s recent actions were disturbing – and potentially dangerous.   After two summits with President Donald Trump and an historic June 30th meeting at the DMZ, ...
Cipher Brief Expert View
Emile Nakhleh

MbS' Influence in the Middle East and Beyond

August 07, 2019 | Emile Nakhleh

Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammad bin Salman (MbS) finds himself in an interesting situation these days with his influence waning throughout the Middle East, and still feeling ...

Fine Print

Walter Pincus

No Intermediate Arms Race Needed

August 06, 2019 | Walter Pincus

OPINION -- The U.S. has a triad of strategic nuclear weapons, air-launched from bombers, sea-launched from submarines, and land-based intercontinental missiles launched from underground silos. There is a reason. The ...
VIEW OUR COLUMNS