Avoiding Strategic Surprise will be key in the next Administration
EXPERT Q&A – The Cipher Brief tapped Dave Pitts, former Assistant Director of CIA for South and Central Asia and range of other experts with […] More
Afghanistan
Is Afghanistan A Lost Cause for America? Observations from One of the Last Americans Out
SUBSCRIBER+EXCLUSIVE EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — More than two years after its withdrawal from Afghanistan, the U.S. still does not have a clear way forward in the […] More
The U.S. is still sending money for Afghanistan. What’s the Strategy?
OPINION — “Billions in U.S. assistance continue to flow to Afghanistan to address its ongoing humanitarian and economic emergencies. With the removal of U.S. personnel, […] More
Is China the Real Winner in Afghanistan?
SUBSCRIBER+EXCLUSIVE REPORTING — Almost two-and-a-half years after the U.S-backed Afghan government crumbled and the Taliban regime resumed power in Afghanistan, Chinese investors are maneuvering into […] More
The Latest
Terrorist Groups are Again Thriving in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan
OPINION — Last month, the U.S. Central Command said it conducted 20 joint operations in Iraq and 11 in Syria, killing five Islamic State operatives and capturing […] More
The British Betrayal of an Afghan Special Police Commando Force
OPINION/EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — Two years ago, on August 28, 2021, the final British evacuation flight took off from Kabul airport. So ended 20 years of […] More
A Life of Secrets: A Candid Conversation with Michael Vickers
Subscriber+Exclusive Interview — In his new book, By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy, former Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence […] More
Today’s Global Threat from Terrorism
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — The US – Europe Group on Afghanistan, which includes special envoys and representatives for Afghanistan from France, Germany, Italy, Norway, the UK, […] More
We Know Afghanistan’s Past but Where is it Headed?
The United States’ policy errors which led to the chaotic exit from Afghanistan were only surpassed by Pakistan’s blunder in championing the Taliban and the […] More
Justice by Hellfire: The Killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri
It’s possible that the terrorist leader, wanted for his role in plotting the 9/11 attacks and later becoming the head of al Qaeda after the […] More
How Lessons from Afghanistan are playing out in Ukraine
OPINION — How much has the United States learned from past history about undertaking major, large-scale military assistance efforts such as the one now underway […] More
The Afghan Debacle Should Prompt China to Revise its South Asian Policy
This piece was first published by RUSI in London. The views do not represent those of RUSI. EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — While China has tried to rebalance its […] More
What Stands Between the Taliban and Recognition
This piece was first published by RUSI in London. The views do not represent those of RUSI. EXPERT PERSPECTIVE –The international community is coming under increasing […] More
Mapping Afghanistan’s Many Terrorist Groups
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE – The on-going bloody terrorist violence against Shia mosques in Afghan cities like Kunduz, Kandahar, and elsewhere have highlighted the murky issue of […] More
9 Good Questions for First Casualty Author Toby Harnden
Cipher Brief UnderCover senior editor, Bill Harlow talks with journalist and author Toby Harnden about his new book, First Casualty: The Untold Story of the […] More
Out of Afghanistan, an Opportunity for Acquisition
Cipher Brief Expert Robert J. Eatinger is former senior deputy general counsel at the CIA. He has 35 years of experience practicing law in the […] More
America Needs Accountability on Afghanistan
Cipher Brief Expert Laura E. Thomas is a former CIA case officer and Chief of Base in Afghanistan, who led sensitive CIA programs at CIA […] More
After 9/11, Good Intelligence is More Important than Ever
Cipher Brief Expert Daniel Hoffman is a former senior officer with the Central Intelligence Agency, where he served as a three-time station chief and a senior […] More
Wars are not Won by Evacuations
Mark Kelton, Former Deputy Director, CIA’s Counterintelligence, National Clandestine Service Cipher Brief Expert Mark Kelton is a retired senior Central Intelligence Agency executive with 34 […] More