Why do we need Plutonium Pits?
OPINION — The Trump administration’s year-old plan to vastly increase future production of plutonium pits, the triggers of thermonuclear weapons, caught my attention just days […] More
National Security
Trump’s Test as India and Pakistan Clash over Kashmir Again
When the latest India-Pakistan flare-up arose over disputed Kashmir, my mind went back to Christmas Eve, 2001. My family was urging me to get to […] More
President Trump’s Polish Adventure
OPINION — President Trump’s scheduled trip to Poland this coming weekend to participate in that country’s Sept. 1, 80th anniversary of the start of World War […] 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
Signs of Iranian Strategy
It was a busy weekend of activity for Iran, much of it rooted in its desire to seek ways around U.S. sanctions that are targeting […] More
A Public-Private National Security Alliance
The Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) is preparing for one of its biggest events of the year. The non-profit counts more than 160 industry, […] More
The Real Threat Posed by EMPs
The national security threat posed by an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) is not the kind of thing you hear talked about often in Washington’s national security […] More
National Security Science: Earthquake or Nuclear Test?
With ongoing and often frustrating nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea and heightened tensions between nuclear neighbors India and Pakistan over Kashmir, having a […] More
What Really Happened at CIA Black Sites
Former CIA and FBI official Phil Mudd knows a lot of details you probably don’t about CIA black sites. He knows, because he was associated […] More
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 […] More
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 […] More
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 […] More
Mexico’s Role in Border Security
The Cipher Brief is taking a look this week at the national security situation along the southern border. On Sunday, Congressman Will Hurd told NBC, […] More
The Real National Security Challenges at the Border
The Cipher Brief is taking a look this week at the national security situation along the southern border. On NBC, the only Congressional Republican who […] More
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 […] More
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 […] More
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 […] More
Iran’s Next Surprise
When he became Secretary of Defense in early 2001, Donald Rumsfeld publicly expressed his concern about the inevitability of surprise. He often reminded other officials […] More