Macron’s Visit: “Embrace of Trump and a Rejection of Trumpism”
French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Washington featured both the first state dinner of the Trump presidency as well as an address to Congress. Macron […] More
International
The Strategic Risks of Inaction on Syria’s Chemical Weapons
Bottom Line: Syria’s chemical weapons program not only contributes to a tragic humanitarian situation, but its uninhibited use and maintenance creates strategic implications for the […] More
Kim Jong Un Is “All-In.” What’s Next for Korea?
There’s a dark purpose in Kim Jong Un’s proffered moratorium on nuclear and ballistic missile testing announced over the weekend. Kim, with the apparent complicity […] More
Nuke Mission Accomplished, Kim Jong Un Shifts to Economy
On Saturday, North Korea announced it was suspending nuclear weapons and ballistic missile testing, ahead of this week’s summit with South Korea and ahead of […] More
CIA Releases Morell Memo Clearing Haspel on Destroyed Tapes
The CIA is defending its deputy director Gina Haspel – Trump administration nominee to lead the agency – against charges that she erred when she […] More
Inside the Competitive, Corrupt World of Russian Intelligence
Bottom Line: The Kremlin employs various often overlapping and competitive security and intelligence services to create multiple sources of intelligence, encourage risk-taking and keep a […] More
One-Off Strikes Accomplish Nothing. Assad Must Go.
The American strikes last week on Syrian chemical production, storage and delivery facilities amounted to no more than another pinprick and a slap on Syrian leader Bashar […] More
Two CIA Vets Take on CIA Nominee Haspel & Those Tapes
The nomination hearing of Gina Haspel to lead the agency is shaping up to be a bruising interrogation over Haspel’s role in the destruction of […] More
Turkey’s Greenlight in Syria Detracts from ISIS Fight
Bottom Line: The U.S. teamed with Kurdish forces to oust ISIS from its self-declared caliphate in Syria in Iraq, but now Washington’s continued support for […] More
Trump Hits Assad Regime Over Suspected Chemical Attack
After days threatening to take action, President Donald Trump announced Friday evening that he’d ordered “precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities,” […] More
North Korea’s Navy: Keeping Kim’s Economy Afloat
Bottom Line: While much attention is rightfully given to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) nuclear and ballistic missile arsenal, the country’s naval and […] More
Trump’s “Red Line” Moment in Syria?
Bottom Line: U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to rain missiles on forces loyal to Syrian Bashar al-Assad, one week after they allegedly conducted a […] More
ThreatCon Day 3: Fighting Terror Beyond the Grid Square
On the final day of the Cipher Brief Threat Conference in Sea Island, Ga., three CIA veterans of the post-9/11 terrorism fight discussed the current […] More
Bossert on Sunday: “I see consistency…I feel comfortable.”
The White House said President Donald Trump’s Homeland Security Advisor, Thomas Bossert, will be resigning his post Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee […] More
Is the US Still a Reliable Ally?
Cipher Brief experts Matt Olsen and Nick Fishwick tackled the state of the U.S. alliance with the “5 Eyes” – the U.S., Britain, Canada, Australia […] More
ThreatCon Day 2: Striking back against “Reckless” Russia
The second day of this year’s annual Threat Conference was filled with prescient discussions of intelligence, foreign threats and preparing for the future—by current members […] More
Full Court Press for Haspel – Letter from Fifty Former Officials
More than 50 former senior U.S. government officials sent a letter to the Senate intelligence committee Monday to support Trump nominee Gina Haspel to lead […] More
Debating Risk and Blowback on North Korea
Cipher Brief experts debated the risk versus blowback of striking North Korea before it has a chance to strike the continental United States, at The […] More