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Monday February 01, 2021
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Cipher Brief Stories

Cyber Advisor
Robert Knake

Most Tools Failed to Detect the SolarWinds Malware

February 01, 2021 | Rob Knake

Rob Knake is the Whitney Shepardson Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Knake served from 2011 to 2015 as director for cybersecurity policy at the National Security Council. In this ...

Dead Drop: January 29

January 29, 2021 | Anonymous

TWO OUT OF THREE: (Recently) Acting SECDEF Chris Miller told a reporter that when he took his job, he had three goals: “No military coup, no major war, and no troops ...

The US Intelligence Community's Complicated Relationship with Telework

January 27, 2021 | Jim Danoy

Jim Danoy, Former Executive, Defense Intelligence Agency Cipher Brief Expert Jim Danoy is a former defense intelligence executive and served as the National Intelligence Manager for Europe and NATO at ...

Opinion
Javed Ali

A Roadmap for Tackling Violent Extremist Content Online

January 27, 2021 | Javed Ali

Javed Ali is a Towsley Policymaker in Residence at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and had over 20 years professional experience in Washington, DC ...

Cipher Brief Expert View
Sean Corbett

Strategy as a Fundamental of National Security

January 26, 2021 | Sean Corbett

Cipher Brief Expert Sean Corbett retired from the Royal Air Force in September 2018 after a 30-year career as a professional intelligence officer. His last appointment in the military was ...

Fine Print

Walter Pincus

A New Tone for Avril Haines' Intelligence Community

January 26, 2021 | Walter Pincus

Walter Pincus is a contributing senior national security columnist for The Cipher Brief. He spent forty years at The Washington Post, writing on topics from nuclear weapons to politics.  In ...

Is it Time for a New Policy Toward North Korea - A Cipher Brief Debate

January 25, 2021 | James Clapper and Joseph DeTrani

North Korea’s party Congress, held earlier this month, offered some insight into what Leader Kim Jong Un is thinking when it comes to the country’s nuclear ambitions with a Biden ...

Cipher Brief Expert View
Tim Willasey-Wilsey

The US' Dangerous Dilemma in Afghanistan

January 25, 2021 | Tim Willasey-Wilsey

Cipher Brief Expert Tim Willasey-Wilsey is a visiting Professor of War Studies at King’s College, London and a former senior British diplomat. The views expressed in this article are the ...

Cipher Brief Expert View
John McLaughlin

Biden's Big Iran Challenge

January 22, 2021 | John McLaughlin

Cipher Brief Expert John E. McLaughlin is the Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).  He served as Acting Director of Central Intelligence ...

The Climate and U.S. National Security: A Conversation Series

January 21, 2021 | ADM James Stavridis

CLIMATE -- One of President Biden’s first areas of focus after taking office on Wednesday was on the climate, reinstating a commitment that the US will rejoin the Paris climate ...

Inside the Bureau of Intelligence and Research

January 20, 2021 | The Cipher Brief

The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, better known as INR, is charged with providing intelligence products in support of U.S. diplomatic efforts around the world. Established in 1947 ...

Fine Print

Walter Pincus

General Austin's New Mission Begins

January 19, 2021 | Walter Pincus

Walter Pincus is a contributing senior national security columnist for The Cipher Brief. He spent forty years at The Washington Post, writing on topics from nuclear weapons to politics.  In ...

Operation Fortitude: A Lesson in Deception from D-Day

January 18, 2021 | Christopher Turner

(Photo caption:  Full-size dummy LCTs, codenamed BIGBOB, moored in South East England before the Normandy invasion (British Imperial War Museums, photograph H 42527, public domain).  This article was adapted from a ...

Analysis

Javed Ali

Understanding the Jihadist and Extreme-Right Mindsets

January 18, 2021 | Javed Ali

Javed Ali is a Towsley Policymaker in Residence at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and had over 20 years professional experience in Washington, DC ...

The Listening Post
Col. Candice Frost

Why Lighting Other's Torches Matters

January 13, 2021 | Candice Frost

The Listening Post tells the stories of women in national security by sharing columns, interviews, and profiles of women who are ushering in the new era of national security.  Colonel Candice E. Frost is ...

Fine Print

Walter Pincus

We Need An Insurrection Investigation

January 12, 2021 | Walter Pincus

Walter Pincus is a contributing senior national security columnist for The Cipher Brief. He spent forty years at The Washington Post, writing on topics from nuclear weapons to politics.  In ...

Special Report: Attack on Democracy

January 07, 2021 | The Cipher Brief

Here's our take on the failed efforts of a pro-Trump mob to stop Congress from certifying ballots at the Capitol on Wednesday as Congress, led by Vice President Mike Pence, ...

Washington's Cyber Reckoning

December 21, 2020 | The Cipher Brief

As Washington continues to investigate the true depth of what experts are describing as one of the most damaging cyberattacks in U.S. history, both government and private sector leaders are ...

The IC Must Move Forward, Not Go Back

December 14, 2020 | Carmen Medina

Carmen Medina is a former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence. A 32-year veteran of the Intelligence Community, she is also the author of Rebels at Work: A Handbook for Leading Change ...

Taiwan's Place in the Global Tech Race

December 09, 2020 | The Cipher Brief

It’s no secret that Taiwanese factories produce much of the world’s computer chip and semi-conductor supplies used in a variety of products from smartphones to medical equipment. That alone may ...

Iran: Assassination and Retaliation

December 04, 2020 | Norman Roule

Just over a week ago, Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed by what Iranian authorities describe as a remote-controlled weapon as his car made its way through the ...

A Consequential Killing in Tehran

December 01, 2020 | Norman T. Roule

The killing of Al Qaeda’s second in command reportedly at the hands of Israeli operatives working in Tehran signals a significant reduction among al Qaeda’s founding generation, leaving questions about ...

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VIEW OUR COLUMNS

Members-Only Briefs & Analysis

Dead Drop: January 29

January 29, 2021 | Anonymous

TWO OUT OF THREE: (Recently) Acting SECDEF Chris Miller told a reporter that when he took his job, he had three goals: “No military coup, no major war, and no troops ...

The US Intelligence Community's Complicated Relationship with Telework

January 27, 2021 | Jim Danoy

Jim Danoy, Former Executive, Defense Intelligence Agency Cipher Brief Expert Jim Danoy is a former defense intelligence executive and served as the National Intelligence Manager for Europe and NATO at ...

Is it Time for a New Policy Toward North Korea - A Cipher Brief Debate

January 25, 2021 | James Clapper and Joseph DeTrani

North Korea’s party Congress, held earlier this month, offered some insight into what Leader Kim Jong Un is thinking when it comes to the country’s nuclear ambitions with a Biden ...

The Climate and U.S. National Security: A Conversation Series

January 21, 2021 | ADM James Stavridis

CLIMATE -- One of President Biden’s first areas of focus after taking office on Wednesday was on the climate, reinstating a commitment that the US will rejoin the Paris climate ...

Inside the Bureau of Intelligence and Research

January 20, 2021 | The Cipher Brief

The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, better known as INR, is charged with providing intelligence products in support of U.S. diplomatic efforts around the world. Established in 1947 ...

Operation Fortitude: A Lesson in Deception from D-Day

January 18, 2021 | Christopher Turner

(Photo caption:  Full-size dummy LCTs, codenamed BIGBOB, moored in South East England before the Normandy invasion (British Imperial War Museums, photograph H 42527, public domain).  This article was adapted from a ...

Special Report: Attack on Democracy

January 07, 2021 | The Cipher Brief

Here's our take on the failed efforts of a pro-Trump mob to stop Congress from certifying ballots at the Capitol on Wednesday as Congress, led by Vice President Mike Pence, ...

Washington's Cyber Reckoning

December 21, 2020 | The Cipher Brief

As Washington continues to investigate the true depth of what experts are describing as one of the most damaging cyberattacks in U.S. history, both government and private sector leaders are ...

The IC Must Move Forward, Not Go Back

December 14, 2020 | Carmen Medina

Carmen Medina is a former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence. A 32-year veteran of the Intelligence Community, she is also the author of Rebels at Work: A Handbook for Leading Change ...

Taiwan's Place in the Global Tech Race

December 09, 2020 | The Cipher Brief

It’s no secret that Taiwanese factories produce much of the world’s computer chip and semi-conductor supplies used in a variety of products from smartphones to medical equipment. That alone may ...

Iran: Assassination and Retaliation

December 04, 2020 | Norman Roule

Just over a week ago, Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed by what Iranian authorities describe as a remote-controlled weapon as his car made its way through the ...

A Consequential Killing in Tehran

December 01, 2020 | Norman T. Roule

The killing of Al Qaeda’s second in command reportedly at the hands of Israeli operatives working in Tehran signals a significant reduction among al Qaeda’s founding generation, leaving questions about ...

Get More Briefs

Columns and Op‑Eds

Cyber Advisor
Robert Knake

Most Tools Failed to Detect the SolarWinds Malware

February 01, 2021 | Rob Knake

Rob Knake is the Whitney Shepardson Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Knake served from 2011 to 2015 as director for cybersecurity policy at the National Security Council. In this ...

Opinion
Javed Ali

A Roadmap for Tackling Violent Extremist Content Online

January 27, 2021 | Javed Ali

Javed Ali is a Towsley Policymaker in Residence at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and had over 20 years professional experience in Washington, DC ...

Cipher Brief Expert View
Sean Corbett

Strategy as a Fundamental of National Security

January 26, 2021 | Sean Corbett

Cipher Brief Expert Sean Corbett retired from the Royal Air Force in September 2018 after a 30-year career as a professional intelligence officer. His last appointment in the military was ...

Fine Print

Walter Pincus

A New Tone for Avril Haines' Intelligence Community

January 26, 2021 | Walter Pincus

Walter Pincus is a contributing senior national security columnist for The Cipher Brief. He spent forty years at The Washington Post, writing on topics from nuclear weapons to politics.  In ...

Cipher Brief Expert View
Tim Willasey-Wilsey

The US' Dangerous Dilemma in Afghanistan

January 25, 2021 | Tim Willasey-Wilsey

Cipher Brief Expert Tim Willasey-Wilsey is a visiting Professor of War Studies at King’s College, London and a former senior British diplomat. The views expressed in this article are the ...

Cipher Brief Expert View
John McLaughlin

Biden's Big Iran Challenge

January 22, 2021 | John McLaughlin

Cipher Brief Expert John E. McLaughlin is the Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).  He served as Acting Director of Central Intelligence ...

Fine Print

Walter Pincus

General Austin's New Mission Begins

January 19, 2021 | Walter Pincus

Walter Pincus is a contributing senior national security columnist for The Cipher Brief. He spent forty years at The Washington Post, writing on topics from nuclear weapons to politics.  In ...

Analysis

Javed Ali

Understanding the Jihadist and Extreme-Right Mindsets

January 18, 2021 | Javed Ali

Javed Ali is a Towsley Policymaker in Residence at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and had over 20 years professional experience in Washington, DC ...

The Listening Post
Col. Candice Frost

Why Lighting Other's Torches Matters

January 13, 2021 | Candice Frost

The Listening Post tells the stories of women in national security by sharing columns, interviews, and profiles of women who are ushering in the new era of national security.  Colonel Candice E. Frost is ...

Fine Print

Walter Pincus

We Need An Insurrection Investigation

January 12, 2021 | Walter Pincus

Walter Pincus is a contributing senior national security columnist for The Cipher Brief. He spent forty years at The Washington Post, writing on topics from nuclear weapons to politics.  In ...

VIEW OUR COLUMNS
Dead Drop

LANGLEY LAMENTS LOOSE LIPS:  According to The New York Times, the CIA sent a note to retired officers recently telling them to quit blabbing sensitive stuff on television, podcasts, panels and social media.  And Sheetal T. Patel, the Agency’s assistant director for counterintelligence also warned about Agency alums seeking employment with foreign governments. A CIA spokesperson, Nicole de Haay, told the Times there was nothing unusual with the content of the email. Former CIA Director General Michael Hayden, speaking at an online event for The Hayden Center at GMU on Tuesday spoke out in favor of careful engagement with the media. “The people want to know...It’s good for America,” he said.

Get the Drop
Expert Briefing Series

A Primer for Congress on Artificial Intelligence

February 11, 2021 |

February 11, 2021 at 1:30pm ET Presenting: Artificial Intelligence in the New Age of National Security a 6-part series Part 2: A Primer for Congress on Artificial Intelligence This special ...

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Matt Olsen

Former Director, National CounterTerrorism Center
The Cipher Brief has emerged as the go-to source for analysis and insights on cyber and national security. As the global security landscape has become increasingly complex, The Cipher Brief has become indispensable -- providing a non-partisan platform for experts from government and business to share views, learn from each other, and work together to find new partners and solutions.
2018-10-20T16:31:07+00:00
Former Director, National CounterTerrorism Center The Cipher Brief has emerged as the go-to source for analysis and insights on cyber and national security. As the global security landscape has become increasingly complex, The Cipher Brief has become indispensable -- providing a non-partisan platform for experts from government and business to share views, learn from each other, and work together to find new partners and solutions.
https://www.thecipherbrief.com/testimonials/matt-olsen

Ambassador Joseph Detrani

Former Director of the National Counterproliferation Center
The in-depth analysis The Cipher Brief provides, an all issues affecting our national security, written by some of the most senior and knowledgable public and private sector experts, is truly unique and invaluable. It's a must read for anyone interesting in world affairs.
2018-10-20T16:43:25+00:00
Former Director of the National Counterproliferation Center The in-depth analysis The Cipher Brief provides, an all issues affecting our national security, written by some of the most senior and knowledgable public and private sector experts, is truly unique and invaluable. It's a must read for anyone interesting in world affairs.
https://www.thecipherbrief.com/testimonials/ambassador-joseph-detrani

Sponsored Content

January 01, 1970 | Sponsored Content

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Network Spotlight

Robert P. Ashley

Lieutenant General Robert P. Ashley, Jr. is a career Army intelligence officer having served over thirty-six years on active duty. He retired from the Army on 1 November 2020. He final assignment was as the 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency from October 2017 to October 2020 where we reported directly to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence ...

Read More

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