Sorting Facts from Propaganda
OPINION — “The function of truth is to bring to light the hidden facts, to set them into relation with each other, and make a […] More
Opinion
Leaders to Watch in 2020
OPINION — As 2019 draws to a close, it is worth re-examining not only which leaders attracted media attention, but also looking ahead with respect […] More
The Most Tiresome Truths on Syria
OPINION — It has been several years since I thought deeply about Syria. And that is a shame, given my long time affection for the […] More
U.S. Foreign Policy: Blurred and Drifting Dangerously
OPINION — American foreign policy has faded into a confusing and dangerous blur as a result of mismanagement, flip-flopping objectives, political turmoil in Washington and […] More
Confessions of a Public Servant
OPINION — Events in Washington last week were gut-wrenching for many, not least for America’s Foreign Service and the two million other public servants of […] More
A Note to the IC Workforce on the Whistleblower
OPINION — It is common for the leadership of the Intelligence Community to send notes to the workforce. The leaderships’ thoughts on all sorts of […] More
A View of Trump’s America from the Birthplace of Democracy
OPINION — Traveling in Greece on personal business during late October, it was remarkable to hear from a variety of Greeks, their unvarnished views of […] More
Syrian Withdrawal Dangerous Regional Gambit
Cipher Brief Expert Emile Nakhleh is a retired CIA Senior Intelligence Service Officer and founding director of the CIA’s Political Islam Strategic Analysis Program Office. […] More
Recruiting Spies in the Trump Era
Marc Polymeropoulos retired in June 2019 from the Senior Intelligence Service ranks at the CIA after a 26 year career in operational headquarters and field […] More
In Syria, Trump Takes U.S. Leadership Down Another Notch
OPINION — President Donald Trump’s decision to remove the small contingent of United States troops remaining in Syria is a disaster on multiple levels. It illustrates not […] More
Trump’s Impact on the Five Eyes and Beyond
OPINION — As we digest the Trump administration’s unorthodox style of governing in the foreign affairs arena, it is worth focusing on a key aspect […] More
Are We Headed for a Watergate Moment?
OPINION — Could there be a Hugh Scott in 2019? I refer to Sen. Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania, in office from 1958 to 1976, who […] More
Atkinson’s Dogged Push for Transparency
OPINION — Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson deserves praise along with the Whistleblower for pushing within the law to get President Trump’s highly protected […] More
What Future War with Iran Could Look Like
OPINION – It’s still unclear just how President Trump may further respond to the recent coordinated drone attack on a Saudi oil facility that has […] More
A Fading Chance for Improvement with North Korea
During 2018 and part of 2019, the DPRK’s Chairman Kim Jong-un, South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in, and U.S. President Donald Trump collectively made diplomatic history […] More
China’s Paper Dragon
“This idea may be formulated as follows. The situation is better now than it was ten years ago; therefore ten years from now it will […] More
Afghanistan and the Dark Side of No Man Left Behind
As the U.S. administration is contemplating the next steps in our march toward departure from Afghanistan (what some consider a much needed disengagement from an […] More
Life as an Intelligence Officer in the Age of Twitter
There has been much concern and consternation in the media— some perhaps understandable after two plus years of tweets and “off the cuff” statements by […] More