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I Was Cheney's CIA Briefer: This is the Dick Cheney I Knew

Matt Berrett

I Was Cheney's CIA Briefer: This is the Dick Cheney I Knew

EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — About a week before being interviewed by Richard Bruce Cheney about whether I would be the right person to serve as his national [...] More

IraqMiddle East

The Latest

Biden's National Security Test

John McLaughlin

Biden's National Security Test

Cipher Brief Expert John McLaughlin is former Acting Director of the CIA, former Deputy CIA Director and is the Distinguished Practitioner in [...] More

North AmericaCipher Brief Expert ViewNuclearMiddle EastTerrorismEspionageTech/Cybernational securitySecurity/StabilityGlobal IssuesCIAEuropeRussiaIranNorth KoreaChinaAfghanistanPolicySyriaCounterterrorismIraqISIS

What a Biden Administration Means for the World

John McLaughlin

What a Biden Administration Means for the World

The Cipher Brief is a non-political media outlet focused on publishing expert perspectives on national security issues. We are committed to [...] More

North AmericaCipher Brief Expert ViewMiddle EastSecurity/StabilityGlobal IssuesCIAAsiaRussiaIranChinaIsraelIraqISIS

How Will a Biden Administration Engage the Middle East?

Emile Nakhleh

How Will a Biden Administration Engage the Middle East?

The Cipher Brief is a non-political media outlet focused on publishing expert perspectives on national security issues. We are committed to [...] More

Middle EastEmile NakhlehCipher Brief Expert ViewSecurity/StabilityIranPolicySaudi ArabiaIsraelSyriaIraqISIS

Instability in Iraq During Leadership Transition

Intel Brief

Instability in Iraq During Leadership Transition

Bottom Line up FrontIraq’s new government will struggle to extricate the country from its role as an arena for conflict between Iran and the United [...] More

Middle EastSoufan CenterIraqIntel Brief
COVID and Navigating the New Middle East Challenges

COVID and Navigating the New Middle East Challenges

The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has added a significant layer of uncertainty to an already complicated situation in the Middle East. The [...] More

Middle EastIntelligencenational securitySecurity/StabilityGlobal IssuesReportingIranIsraelSaudi ArabiaIraqSyriaISIS
The OSINT Global Trendline Report

The OSINT Global Trendline Report

The Cipher Brief’s Open Source Trend Line Report utilizes open source data to track trends around the world that impact national and global security. [...] More

AsiaNuclearMiddle EastDoDnational securityGlobal IssuesEuropeAfricaReportingIranNorth KoreaChinaNorth AfricaIraq
OSINT Global Trendline Report: The Middle East and Africa

OSINT Global Trendline Report: The Middle East and Africa

The Cipher Brief’s Open Source Trend Line Report utilizes open source data on a quarterly basis to track trends around the world that impact national [...] More

AfricaIranNorth AfricaIntelligenceSaudi ArabiaIraqMiddle EastISISnational securityGlobal IssuesReporting
OSINT Global Trendline Report: COVID and the Americas

OSINT Global Trendline Report: COVID and the Americas

The Cipher Brief’s Open Source Trend Line Report utilizes open source data on a quarterly basis to track trends around the world that impact national [...] More

EuropeAlliesTech/CyberSecurity/StabilityGlobal IssuesPolicyCounterterrorismIraqIntelligenceMiddle EastTerrorismDoDnational securityCIAAfricamilitaryAsiaReportingAmericasRussiaIranNorth KoreaChinaAfghanistanNorth AfricaSaudi ArabiaNorth AmericaLatin AmericaUnited States

Iran-U.S. Tensions Escalate Against Backdrop of COVID-19 Spread

Intel Brief

Iran-U.S. Tensions Escalate Against Backdrop of COVID-19 Spread

Bottom Line Up FrontLethal attacks on U.S. troops by Iran-backed Iraqi militias in March 2020 demonstrate that Iran continues to retaliate for the [...] More

Middle EastIranSoufan CenterIraqIntel Brief

US Foreign Policy and a 'Bridge to the Unknown'

John McLaughlin

US Foreign Policy and a 'Bridge to the Unknown'

Cipher Brief Expert John McLaughlin is a distinguished practitioner in residence at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International [...] More

InternationalNuclearIntelligenceNATOMiddle EastTerrorismAlliesnational securitySecurity/StabilityGlobal IssuesEuropeRussiaIranNorth KoreaAfghanistanNorth AfricaPolicySyriaUkraineIraqSaudi ArabiaIsraelNorth AmericaISIS

Iraqi Militias Adjust to Losses

Intel Brief

Iraqi Militias Adjust to Losses

Bottom Line Up FrontIran-backed Shia militias in Iraq remain active despite the assassination of their Iranian mentor and the leading Iraqi militia [...] More

Middle EastSoufan CenterIraqIntel Brief
OSINT Global Trendline Report

OSINT Global Trendline Report

The Cipher Brief’s Open Source Trend Line Report utilizes open source data on a quarterly basis to track trends around the world that impact national [...] More

AfricaMiddle EastGlobal IssuesEuropeAsiaReportingAmericasRussiaIranNorth KoreaChinaAfghanistanNorth AfricaSyriaIraqSaudi ArabiaIsraelNorth AmericaLatin AmericaISISUnited States