The U.S. and Russia: No Détente Anytime Soon
In the recent past, every new U.S. administration has attempted to improve relations with Russia to address mutual security threats such as combating terrorism. Both […]
Opinion
Countering Russian Aggression in the Trump Era
A Congressional inquiry next year into Russian involvement in the U.S. presidential election will be only one of several Legislative Branch initiatives that may interrupt […]
The President-elect's Dismissal of CIA's Election Findings Is Not Acceptable
As the United States and the international community absorbed the news that the CIA believed Russia had interfered in the recent Presidential election to help […]
Tracking Down Escobar: The Real Story
“Narcos” is the Netflix fictionalized series that traces the rise and fall of one of the world’s most notorious narcotic traffickers, Colombian drug lord Pablo […]
The Failure to Negotiate with North Korea
In our graduate school, we emphasize the importance of understanding the history, culture, and political system of an adversary, which often gives you a better […]
Presidents vs. The Kremlin
Naiveté is never a good way to approach foreign policy challenges. However, it seems that every new Presidential Administration has a tendency to place hope […]
Questions Congress Should Ask the Defense Secretary Nominee
President-elect Donald Trump has called his chosen Defense Secretary, retired Marine General James Mattis “the real deal,” but after January 20, will President Trump, an […]
An Open Letter to the CIA Director Nominee
One of President-elect Donald Trump’s first choices for his national security team was Representative Mike Pompeo for Director of the CIA. A graduate of West […]
The Real Story Behind the King of Cocaine
“Narcos” is the Netflix fictionalized series that traces the rise and fall of one of the world’s most notorious narcotic traffickers, Colombian drug lord Pablo […]
Confronting North Korea: A War of the Will
As the incoming administration continues to define its contours, and as President-elect Donald Trump begins to outline a foreign policy strategy for the next four […]
Company Systems Vulnerable to Mobile Devices
With the pervasive growth of smart phone and tablet use, cybersecurity professionals are worried these devices could present new vulnerabilities to company systems. The Cipher […]
A Challenging Four Years for the Media
Don’t be fooled that there is a new Donald Trump now that he is president-elect. As I have written before, this Trump presidency is going […]
Re-Thinking Iraq: A Problem Can Become a Solution
Should we think of Iraq as a solution rather than a problem? For most Americans, Iraq is immediately associated with words like: disaster, problem, mess, […]
Security Dynamics Amidst Africa's Armed Conflicts
There has been a downward trend in large-scale warfare on the African continent since the number of wars peaked in the mid 1990s. However, new […]
Best Of: Nothing Good Comes from Humiliation
For this year’s Thanksgiving Day column, The Cipher Brief revisits Carmen Medina’s exploration of the powerful role humiliation plays in personal psychology, national psyches, and […]
Don't Give Up On Serving the Nation
I teach at two great graduate schools at George Washington and Johns Hopkins Universities. I am privileged to interact with talented and dedicated students, many […]
Oversight Needed on Trump's Global War Against Islamic Terror
Prepare yourselves for a stepped-up, worldwide war against Islamic radical terrorists directed from the White House by President-elect Donald Trump and his closest aides, who […]
Keane: I Can't Go Back to Public Service
As President-elect Donald Trump assembles his national security team, The Cipher Brief met with one prospective nominee, General Jack Keane, former Vice Chief of Staff […]