Network Take: What did Trump Nail or Fail in 100 Days?
As the Trump Administration marks 100 days in office, there have been shuffles in the National Security Council, a strike in Syria, tough talk on […] More
Pam Benson
Trump says U.S.-Russia Relations at an All-time Low
Donald Trump entered the presidency committed to improving U.S. ties with Russia, but less than three months into his term, the President says the relationship […] More
Trump and Russia: Political Firestorm or National Security Concern?
As new questions arise about the Trump Administration’s contacts with Russian officials, one man has been caught in the political maelstrom: Russian Ambassador to the […] More
Change of Tone for Trump? Views from The Cipher Brief Network
The bombastic, bleak tone from his Inaugural Address was gone. In his address to Congress Tuesday night, President Donald Trump was more optimistic, talking about […] More
The Latest
What We Know About Donald Trump's National Security Agenda
The votes have been cast, the decision made, and now comes the really tough part: governing. During a presidential campaign, issues are portrayed mostly in […] More
Decision Day in the U.S.: Daunting Security Challenges Ahead
When the new president walks into the Oval Office on January 20th, the American leader will most likely find a note from Barack Obama, a […] More
No Knock Out in the Final Round of the U.S. Presidential Debate
All things considered, there was ample discussion of critical national security issues during the third and final 90-minute debate of this heated and often nasty […] More
Round Two of the U.S. Presidential Debates
It was a U.S. presidential debate unlike we have ever experienced. Personal attacks and accusations expressed by Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary […] More
The Presidential Debate: Divided They Stand on National Security Issues
The issue of national security is one of many to divide the two Presidential candidates in this, the most contentious of election campaigns. During Monday […] More
Why Former CIA Director Hayden May Take a "Pass" on the Presidential Election
Now that the Presidential candidates will soon be getting classified intelligence briefings, critics on both sides have raised questions about whether either candidate is fit […] More
50 Former National Security Officials Say Trump would be a “Dangerous President”
Fifty former top national security officials who served in Republican administrations have signed a blistering letter denouncing GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump, warning he ““would […] More
Lieutenant General Vincent Stewart: He Did a Lot More Than Show Up
From his spacious office overlooking the Potomac River, Lieutenant General Vincent Stewart has sweeping views of some of Washington D.C.’s iconic landmarks—the Washington Monument, the […] More
Pakistan: Friend and Foe?
If you attend a Congressional hearing on the state of U.S.-Pakistan relations, you’ll probably hear one of the lawmakers refer to Pakistan as a “frenemy,” […] More
The Security Challenge of Terror
In the aftermath of a terrorist attack like the one in Brussels this week, we naturally focus on the loss of life and the people […] More
The Scourge of Terrorism
The tragic events in Brussels on Tuesday once again brought to the forefront the seemingly never ending battle to fight the scourge of terrorism. As […] More
The Future of the Middle East
The chaos we’re seeing today throughout the Mideast continues to escalate and shows no signs of subsiding. The United States and the West seem unwilling […] More
The Battle for Ukraine
Russia, seemingly at will, ramps up the pressure in Ukraine. And it looks as if another uptick is underway. So far, the West has yet […] More
A New Era in US-Iranian Relations?
Iran’s every move will be closely scrutinized by the international community now that sanctions have been lifted over its nuclear program, providing Iran access to […] More
The Arab Spring Five Years Later
The Arab Spring was the beacon of hope that would free millions from the grip of autocratic rulers. At first, it looked promising. One by […] More