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CIA

Two Existential Threats: CIA’s Reputation vs. Democracy’s Survival

Steven A. Cash

Two Existential Threats: CIA’s Reputation vs. Democracy’s Survival

OPINION -- In his recent Cipher Brief essay, CIA's Latest Existential Challenge, former CIA senior officer Mark Kelton argues that the Central [...] More

IntelligenceCIAAlternative Perspectives

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When Spymasters Talk: CIA and MI6 Chiefs On 'Bully' Putin and 'Audacious' Ukraine Raid

When Spymasters Talk: CIA and MI6 Chiefs On 'Bully' Putin and 'Audacious' Ukraine Raid

Spymasters rarely say much in public, and when they do, it’s usually a tightly scripted affair. That made this weekend’s joint appearance by CIA [...] More

CIAReportingIntelligence

China is our only real Existential Threat, says Former Senior CIA Officer

David Marlowe

China is our only real Existential Threat, says Former Senior CIA Officer

OPINION — The United States faces a direct existential threat today that has not been matched in severity since the war between our own states - the [...] More

Chinanational securityCIA
How Does the CIA Recruit Russian Spies?
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exclusive reporting

How Does the CIA Recruit Russian Spies?

CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING — As any good intelligence officer will tell you, recruiting spies is a tough business. Not only do you have to identify - and [...] More

CIARussiaEspionageEuropeReporting
After Afghanistan: Assessing Today's Threat Landscape

After Afghanistan: Assessing Today's Threat Landscape

SUBSCRIBER+ VIRTUAL BRIEFING— Wednesday, August 28 at 1p ET with Cipher Brief Experts General Frank McKenzie (Ret.) and Dave Pitts, Former Assistant [...] More

AfghanistanCIAAsia

After Trump Assassination Attempt, a Reckoning for America

Daniel Hoffman

After Trump Assassination Attempt, a Reckoning for America

EXPERT Q&A — In the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, officials [...] More

CIACipher Brief Expert ViewNorth AmericaTerrorismDaniel Hoffman

Israel's Fragile North and the Art of 'Intelligence' Diplomacy

Ralph Goff

Israel's Fragile North and the Art of 'Intelligence' Diplomacy

EXPERT Q&A – Tensions along Israel’s northern border have been increasing over the past several weeks with Iranian-backed Hezbollah firing more than [...] More

CIARalph GoffIsraelExpert View

A Summer Guide to Staying Cool with Spy Comedies

Mark Davidson / Chalk Marks

A Summer Guide to Staying Cool with Spy Comedies

CHALK MARKS / OPINION — Spying isn’t a funny business. The stakes are too high, egos too big, mistakes too consequential. That isn’t to say spying [...] More

CIAMark Davidson / Chalk MarksEntertainmentChalk Marks

How did the Presidential Debate Address U.S. National Security Issues? Not well.

Dave Pitts

How did the Presidential Debate Address U.S. National Security Issues? Not well.

OPINION – The Cipher Brief tapped expert Dave Pitts for his reaction to Thursday night’s debate from a national security perspective.“To the original [...] More

ChinaRussiaUkraineDave Pittsnational securityCIA

A former CIA Officer Contemplates the Mission Ahead

Jennifer Ewbank

A former CIA Officer Contemplates the Mission Ahead

OPINION — The transition away from any beloved career can be difficult, but for those who have had highly engaging, rewarding, and even exciting [...] More

CIA
'Havana Syndrome' - and a Possible Russia Connection

'Havana Syndrome' - and a Possible Russia Connection

SUBSCRIBER+ INTERVIEW — Who – or what – is to blame for the debilitating symptoms known as “Havana Syndrome”? The question has been asked repeatedly [...] More

CIAAmericasUnited Statesnational securityReporting

Chalk Marks: A Review of The Sympathizer

Mark Davidson, Former Senior Intelligence Officer, CIA

Chalk Marks: A Review of The Sympathizer

ENTERTAINMENT — “I am a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man of two faces.”This opening sentence of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s novel The Sympathizer is one of the [...] More

CIAEspionageEntertainmentChalk Marks

Securing America's Technological Future is a Shared Mission

Jennifer Ewbank

Securing America's Technological Future is a Shared Mission

EXPERT PERSPECTIVE / OPINION — In an era where technological innovation is the new frontier of global competition, the United States stands at a [...] More

ChinaCipher Brief Expert ViewTech/CyberCIA