Kim Jung Un’s Hubris
North Korean leader Kim Jung Un’s recent actions were disturbing – and potentially dangerous. After two summits with President Donald Trump and an historic June […]
Opinion
MbS’ Influence in the Middle East and Beyond
Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammad bin Salman (MbS) finds himself in an interesting situation these days with his influence waning throughout the […]
No Intermediate Arms Race Needed
OPINION — The U.S. has a triad of strategic nuclear weapons, air-launched from bombers, sea-launched from submarines, and land-based intercontinental missiles launched from underground silos. […]
Putting Focus on the Real Russian Threat
When the President said this week that U.S. intelligence agencies have ‘run amok’, he was offering the statement in part to explain why he was […]
‘Amok’
a-mok (adverb) – to behave uncontrollable and disruptively. Synonym: go berserk In the midst of debate over whether President Donald Trump’s pick to replace Dan […]
Sue Gordon on Speaking Truth to Power, Including the President
Editor’s Note: This article was originally posted in April, 2018 and has been slightly edited for clarity Principal Deputy Director Susan Gordon spoke for a […]
Author Alex Finley Dishes on Life as a Spy
Alex Finley worked for CIA’s Directorate of Operations for about six years in the early 2000s. Her roles took her to places like West Africa […]
Is it Time for Diplomacy in Iran?
Gary Grappo is a former U.S. ambassador who held senior positions including Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad; U.S. Ambassador […]
Why You Should Pay Close Attention to the Intelligence Authorization Bill
The fiscal 2020 Intelligence Authorization Bill, that recently passed the House by an overwhelming 397-to-31 vote, contains provisions that House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam […]
Can Supply Chain Security be a Real Thing?
Cybersecurity firm Finite State issued a recent report concluding that telecommunications equipment made by Chinese firm Huawei present a higher percentage of security vulnerabilities than […]
Milley’s Mindset
Army Gen. Mark Milley indicated he would continue Pentagon independence from some of President Trump’s policies at his confirmation hearing to become the next chairman […]
Daniel Silva’s New Girl
Editors note: Daniel Silva is one of America’s most prolific and popular novelists. His latest book, The New Girl, is officially out today, July 16th. […]
Trump’s Best Chance for a ‘Deal of the Century’ in the Middle East
Tensions remain high between the U.S. and Iran with no recognizable movement toward formal negotiations, and the Administration’s recent effort in Bahrain to gain support […]
Making the Border a National Intelligence Priority
The Cipher Brief is focusing this week on the real national security situation that is building along the southern border. The President recently signed a […]
Life as a Female CIA Targeting Officer
[ED NOTE from Cipher Brief CEO Suzanne Kelly: I met Nada Bakos, the author of The Targeter: My Life in the CIA, Hunting Terrorists and […]
So You Think You’ve Got a Book in You?
Under/Cover is constantly probing for insights that will help readers (and writers) understand how to gauge demand, and how to know if that story they […]
North Korea and Nobel Prizes
OPINION — While two former U.S. Presidents – Jimmy Carter in 1994 and Bill Clinton in 2009 – had made historic visits to Pyongyang, meeting […]
A Better Picture of Global Threat Intelligence
Our newest Cipher Brief Expert, Robert Cardillo talked with us about lessons learned during his time serving as Director of the National Geospatial -Intelligence Agency […]