Cipher Brief Stories

Afghanistan Quagmire Leaves U.S. With No Good Options

June 18, 2018 | Cipher Brief Analysis

Update: June 18, 2018 - Despite an incredibly rare ceasefire between the Afghan Government and the Taliban in observance of Eid al-Fitr, two deadly suicide bombings rocked Jalalabad over the ...

Cipher Brief Expert View

Singapore a Success? Yes, by Mirroring Obama

June 18, 2018 | James Jeffrey

Much initial reaction to the North Korean - American Singapore Summit has been negative, with critics targeting the concessions made by President Trump including; a dramatic, public endorsement of Kim ...

This Week's Dead Drop - June 15, 2018

June 15, 2018 | Anonymous

Each week, we bring our readers tidbits of gossip from the world of national security and intelligence. The Dead Drop is a source of fun or intriguing news you can’t ...

Cipher Brief Expert View

Like it or Not, Singapore Summit was a Success

June 14, 2018 | Joseph DeTrani

The historic June 12th summit in Singapore between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jung Un has moved us closer to a peaceful resolution of issues with North Korea. Compared ...

The Broader Implications of What's Happening in Yemen

June 14, 2018 | Bennett Seftel

Pro-government forces backed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have launched an assault on rebels holding Yemen's port city of Hodeidah. Potential humanitarian casualties are high, since the port serves ...

Cipher Expert Quick Take

The U.S. Must Leverage Influence to Halt Assault In Yemen

June 14, 2018 | Emile Nakhleh

The Arab Coalition's on-going bloody attack on Yemen's critical port city of Hodeidah, with Washington's acquiescence, will only deepen the humanitarian tragedy of the Yemeni people. The Saudi-UAE attack is part ...

Cipher Brief Expert View

The National Security Winners and Losers from Singapore Summit

June 13, 2018 | Todd Rosenblum

China, North Korea and the U.S.-South Korea security alliance are the big winners from the short, joint declaration out of Singapore this week. The United States made important symbolic ...

Analysis

The Future of the Gulf Cooperation Council

June 13, 2018 | Dr. Yoel Guzansky

(Ed note: The Gulf Cooperation Council has been under significant strain for the past year, namely because of an ongoing rift between Qatar and its neighbors, seemingly nudging Qatar closer ...

Jordan's $2.5b Security Lifeline to the Future

June 13, 2018 | Norman T. Roule

While the media is dominated by events in North Korea, it would be wise to devote some space to the decision this week by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, ...

Opinion

The President's Summit Adventure Through an Intelligence Lens

June 12, 2018 | David Priess

OPINION: The eyes of an intelligence officer are trained to look for what a person’s behavior uncovers about his or her motivations and aspirations, which can then help predict future ...

Cipher Brief Expert View

The U.S. Intelligence Mission Targeting North Korea

June 12, 2018 | Daniel Hoffman

Shortly after he was sworn in as Director CIA in January of 2017, now-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made some bold moves that put renewed focus on the North Korea ...

President Trump's Strange Russia Strategy

June 12, 2018 | Suzanne Kelly

As the world focuses on the Singapore summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the President’s Treasury Secretary announced sanctions against five Russian entities and ...

Difficulties Integrating North Korean Defectors Suggest Challenges in Reunifying Korea

June 11, 2018 | Sebastian J. Bae

During the height of the Cold War, North Korean defectors were celebrated as symbols of freedom and a direct indictment of a brutal North Korean regime. Yet over time, the ...

Cipher Brief Expert View

North Korea's Path to Denuclearization

June 11, 2018 | Joe Detrani

The June 12th summit with North Korea will be an important beginning of a process that eventually results in the Complete, Verifiable and Irreversible Dismantlement (CVID) of North Korea’s nuclear ...

This Week's Dead Drop

June 08, 2018 | Anonymous

Each week, we hope to give our readers tidbits of gossip from the world of national security and intelligence. The Dead Drop is a source of fun or intriguing news ...

Opinion

N. Korea, the U.S. and the Strange Path to Singapore

June 08, 2018 | Admiral Sandy Winnefeld

One wonders what the alien creature Griffin, portrayed by Michael Stuhlbarg in Men in Black III, and capable of seeing all possible futures, would see in the range of ...

Cyber Advisor

Virtualized Networking: A Case for CIOs

June 07, 2018 | Jill Singer

The massive data breach that occurred at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in 2015 was attributed, in part, to aging technology systems. In fact, legacy technology pervades federal ...

SOCOM's New Challenge in North Korea and Beyond

June 07, 2018 | COL David Maxwell

As the U.S. President prepares to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore, sources tell The Cipher Brief that U.S. Special Operations Forces have been preparing for potential ...

Iran's Hegemonic Quest

June 06, 2018 | The Cipher Brief

The Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization is putting the IAEA on notice that Tehran is likely to begin producing centrifuges that are used to enrich uranium. According to ...

Are We Headed for a 'Cyber Cuban Missile Crisis' with Russia?

June 05, 2018 | Suzanne Kelly

Bottom Line: The risk posed to U.S. national security by what are believed to be Russian-backed hacking groups, is similar to the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis according to Cipher ...

Pakistan Reflects on Nuclear Achievement in Run Up to Election

June 04, 2018 | Bennett Seftel

Bottom Line: Pakistani citizens are heading to the polls next month in a public display of democracy and choice. Yet, with Pakistan’s military continuing to play a leading role in ...

This Week's Dead Drop

June 01, 2018 | Anonymous

Each week, we hope to give our readers tidbits of gossip from the world of national security and intelligence. The Dead Drop is a source of fun or intriguing news ...

Cipher Brief Features

Afghanistan Quagmire Leaves U.S. With No Good Options

June 18, 2018 | Cipher Brief Analysis

Update: June 18, 2018 - Despite an incredibly rare ceasefire between the Afghan Government and the Taliban in observance of Eid al-Fitr, two deadly suicide bombings rocked Jalalabad over the ...

This Week's Dead Drop - June 15, 2018

June 15, 2018 | Anonymous

Each week, we bring our readers tidbits of gossip from the world of national security and intelligence. The Dead Drop is a source of fun or intriguing news you can’t ...

The Broader Implications of What's Happening in Yemen

June 14, 2018 | Bennett Seftel

Jordan's $2.5b Security Lifeline to the Future

June 13, 2018 | Norman T. Roule

While the media is dominated by events in North Korea, it would be wise to devote some space to the decision this week by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, ...

President Trump's Strange Russia Strategy

June 12, 2018 | Suzanne Kelly

Difficulties Integrating North Korean Defectors Suggest Challenges in Reunifying Korea

June 11, 2018 | Sebastian J. Bae

During the height of the Cold War, North Korean defectors were celebrated as symbols of freedom and a direct indictment of a brutal North Korean regime. Yet over time, the ...

This Week's Dead Drop

June 08, 2018 | Anonymous

Each week, we hope to give our readers tidbits of gossip from the world of national security and intelligence. The Dead Drop is a source of fun or intriguing news ...

SOCOM's New Challenge in North Korea and Beyond

June 07, 2018 | COL David Maxwell

As the U.S. President prepares to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore, sources tell The Cipher Brief that U.S. Special Operations Forces have been preparing for potential ...

Iran's Hegemonic Quest

June 06, 2018 | The Cipher Brief

The Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization is putting the IAEA on notice that Tehran is likely to begin producing centrifuges that are used to enrich uranium. According to ...

Are We Headed for a 'Cyber Cuban Missile Crisis' with Russia?

June 05, 2018 | Suzanne Kelly

Bottom Line: The risk posed to U.S. national security by what are believed to be Russian-backed hacking groups, is similar to the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis according to Cipher ...

Pakistan Reflects on Nuclear Achievement in Run Up to Election

June 04, 2018 | Bennett Seftel

Bottom Line: Pakistani citizens are heading to the polls next month in a public display of democracy and choice. Yet, with Pakistan’s military continuing to play a leading role in ...

This Week's Dead Drop

June 01, 2018 | Anonymous

Each week, we hope to give our readers tidbits of gossip from the world of national security and intelligence. The Dead Drop is a source of fun or intriguing news ...

Columns

Cipher Brief Expert View

Singapore a Success? Yes, by Mirroring Obama

June 18, 2018 | James Jeffrey

Cipher Brief Expert View

Like it or Not, Singapore Summit was a Success

June 14, 2018 | Joseph DeTrani

The historic June 12th summit in Singapore between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jung Un has moved us closer to a peaceful resolution of issues with North Korea. Compared ...

Cipher Expert Quick Take

The U.S. Must Leverage Influence to Halt Assault In Yemen

June 14, 2018 | Emile Nakhleh

Cipher Brief Expert View

The National Security Winners and Losers from Singapore Summit

June 13, 2018 | Todd Rosenblum

China, North Korea and the U.S.-South Korea security alliance are the big winners from the short, joint declaration out of Singapore this week. The United States made important symbolic ...

Analysis

The Future of the Gulf Cooperation Council

June 13, 2018 | Dr. Yoel Guzansky

(Ed note: The Gulf Cooperation Council has been under significant strain for the past year, namely because of an ongoing rift between Qatar and its neighbors, seemingly nudging Qatar closer ...

Opinion

The President's Summit Adventure Through an Intelligence Lens

June 12, 2018 | David Priess

OPINION: The eyes of an intelligence officer are trained to look for what a person’s behavior uncovers about his or her motivations and aspirations, which can then help predict future ...

Cipher Brief Expert View

The U.S. Intelligence Mission Targeting North Korea

June 12, 2018 | Daniel Hoffman

Shortly after he was sworn in as Director CIA in January of 2017, now-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made some bold moves that put renewed focus on the North Korea ...

Cipher Brief Expert View

North Korea's Path to Denuclearization

June 11, 2018 | Joe Detrani

Opinion

N. Korea, the U.S. and the Strange Path to Singapore

June 08, 2018 | Admiral Sandy Winnefeld

One wonders what the alien creature Griffin, portrayed by Michael Stuhlbarg in Men in Black III, and capable of seeing all possible futures, would see in the range of ...

Cyber Advisor

Virtualized Networking: A Case for CIOs

June 07, 2018 | Jill Singer

The massive data breach that occurred at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in 2015 was attributed, in part, to aging technology systems. In fact, legacy technology pervades federal ...

The Dead Drop

Network Spotlight

Gen. Philip M. Breedlove

Gen. Philip M. Breedlove retired as the Commander, Supreme Allied Command, Europe, SHAPE, Belgium and Headquarters, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany. The General was raised in Forest Park, Ga., and was commissioned in 1977 as a distinguished graduate of Georgia Tech's ROTC program. He has been assigned to numerous operational, command and staff positions, and has completed eleven overseas tours, ...