The Threat is Real
The Cipher Brief spoke with the DEA’s former Chief of International Operations, Mike Vigil to discuss the threat of convergence. The Cipher Brief: Convergence is […] More
News & Analysis
Endgame in Afghanistan
The rifts among Taliban factions had been growing for some time, bubbling up as the deception over their leader’s death continued. They boiled over last […] More
Finding the Right Path in Afghanistan
The Cipher Brief sat down with General Stanley McChrystal, the former commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), for a wide-ranging interview. The general offered […] More
Little Room for Optimism
During the 11 months of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s presidency, and despite the combination of a rapid Western pullout and an expanding Taliban insurgency, there […] More
Buying More Time
For the past several years, the Obama administration’s strategy for Afghanistan has rested on the basic assumption that although no reasonable amount of U.S. money […] More
Managing Information & Risk in the Digital Age
It’s a cliché that we live in a world of exponential change. Having spent 32 years at the CIA, from 1978 until 2010, I thought […] More
Making Sense of the World
It’s a cliché that we live in a world of exponential change. Having spent 32 years at the CIA, from 1978 until 2010, I thought […] More
Managing Your Company's Communications
A quick lesson for business leaders (and the millions of others who communicate by e-mail): The digital world as we now know it is forever. […] More
Using Social Media to Protect Your Business
Social media can be a valuable resource for companies, especially those with dispersed operations, by providing situational awareness, work force and facility protection, and advanced […] More
The Dead Drop
Got a secret, can you keep it? Welcome to the The Dead Drop. “The Cipher Brief has become the most popular outlet for former intelligence […] More
CIPHER BRIEF EXCLUSIVE: CIA's Fallen Agent Memorial
When CIA case officers graduate from the Field Training Course, they are reminded of the deep moral responsibility they have to the sources they cultivate, […] More
Crime Rates in Brazil Threaten Business
Violent crime is rising in Brazil and, if past trends hold true, that could be bad for the business community during a time when the […] More
Change in the Kingdom: Three Big Shifts
Saudi Arabia is showing a bolder side. The Kingdom has taken a new direction, undergoing changes in dynastic succession, foreign policy, and economic strategy. “The […] More
Corruption in China: The Party’s Over
In his November 2012 address to the Politburo Standing Committee, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised to rid the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of corruption, vowing […] More
Riyadh's Miscalculation
It is difficult to imagine the turmoil that the House of Saud must have been enduring since the price of oil began its precipitous and […] More
Still An Attractive Investment
Saudi Arabia, blessed with political stability and deep pockets, presents one of the most attractive business and investment environments in the vast region between central […] More
Iran Deal a Boon for US-Saudi Defense Ties
In the wake of the nuclear agreement with Iran, US-Saudi relations appeared on the rocks. But when it comes to defense spending, business has rarely […] More
Using Business To Make a Point
Under President and Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping, China is engaged in either a multi-year campaign to reduce corruption, or a purge of Xi’s […] More