John McLaughlin

The Fragile States Index is a remarkable and welcome document in this era of instant national security analysis, delivered in 24/7 soundbites. With the Index, […] More

The resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn came only three weeks into a whirlwind beginning for the Trump Administration. The Cipher Brief’s Leone Lakhani […] More

The Cipher Brief spoke with network member and former Acting Director of the CIA, John McLaughlin, about the current U.S. counterterrorism strategy, as well as […] More

There are a couple of key questions we should all have when it comes to the difference of opinion between President-elect Donald Trump and the […] More

This is a good moment to assess the state of ISIS – its strengths and weaknesses – given that America is heading into a bruising […] More

There’s one group you almost certainly did not hear mentioned as the news media and others on Memorial Day lauded, honored, and remembered our richly […] More

A couple years ago, when the Middle East was in turmoil but considerably less complicated than today, I was at a small gathering of foreign […] More

The Islamic State (ISIS) is the “preeminent global” threat and remains determined to execute direct attacks against the U.S. homeland, the top U.S. intelligence official […] More

Understanding China and its future ambitions is a fundamental first step in assessing the U.S.’ options on how to best engage China as an important strategic and economic partner.  We asked former Acting […] More

The Cipher Brief sat down with former Acting CIA Director John McLaughlin earlier in the year to discuss the Russian security threat.  McLaughlin assessed that […] More

When the so-called Arab Spring burst upon the Middle East five years ago, Henry Kissinger remarked that this was only “scene one of act one […] More

Amid all the uncertainties about North Korea’s unpredictable young leader, Kim Jong Un, one thing is clear: he has an unrelenting focus on security – his […] More

In the seven months since arriving on the throne, new Saudi King Salman has brought fundamental changes to the Saudi power line-up and to succession […] More

Few things are more hotly debated in Washington and other capitals than the question of how to defeat the Islamic State. Ideas are all over […] More

The Cipher Brief sat down with former Acting CIA Director John McLaughlin at the Aspen Security Forum in July to discuss the Russian security threat. […] More

There’s one group you almost certainly did not hear mentioned as the news media and others on Memorial Day lauded, honored, and remembered our richly […] More