Why Unmasking is Critical to National Security
In mid-March, The Cipher Brief spoke with former CIA Acting and Deputy Director Michael Morell about the issue of “unmasking” – the common practice of […] More
Allies
Leftist Secularism Faces Uncertain Future in Kurdish Rojava
Syria’s Kurds – led by the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its military arm the YPG – have received much attention for their role as […] More
The Promises and Perils of Syrian Kurdistan
Syria’s Kurds are best known for the role that their military arm, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), currently play as the military backbone of […] More
Rethinking the U.S. Alliance with Kurdish Fighters in Syria
As the ISIS “Caliphate” in Syria and Iraq faces annihilation in coming weeks, the U.S. must rethink relations with its highly problematic but effective ally […] More
Chances ‘Slim’ for a Quick Fix to GCC Standoff
The dispute between Qatar and its four regional counterparts – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates – has entered into its fourth […] More
Threats to American Interests Increase as Gulf Diplomacy Dissolves
The ongoing dispute between Qatar and its neighbors – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates – has thrown the U.S. into a […] More
Gulf Crisis Still Smolders as Washington Searches for Options
Well into its fourth month, the tense standoff between Qatar and the four Arab nations that severed diplomatic ties with Doha – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, […] More
NATO, U.S. Take Hard Look at Readiness for Fight in Europe
One of Russia’s largest military exercises begins today – and it’s targeted toward the West. Zapad, which literally means “West” in Russian, is a recurrent […] More
Leave Military Decisions to Those Who Actually Served
In miniature, President Trump’s impetuous attempt to ban transgender individuals from military service illustrates why he is not qualified to be Commander-in-Chief of America’s armed […] More
On the Korean Peninsula, Watch Tangible Movement – Not Rhetoric
The U.S.-South Korea joint Ulchi Freedom Guardian military exercises begin Monday, after days of bellicose rhetoric between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader […] More
Red Teams Test U.S., ROK Forces with Simulated North Korean Attack
The U.S. and South Korea will hold joint military exercises beginning on Monday, as tensions on the Korean peninsula are on the rise. U.S. President […] More
Paris and Berlin No Longer Look Outward to Secure Europe
With Britain leaving the EU, concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to Europe, and an increasingly aggressive Russia, Europeans – especially the French and […] More
Gambling with Catastrophe on the Korean Peninsula
If there has been one common refrain from the Trump administration, it is that President Barack Obama’s policy of “strategic patience” towards North Korea was […] More
Germany and France Close Ranks on Security Amid Global Uncertainty
With Britain leaving the EU, concern from Europeans about U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to Europe, and an increasingly aggressive Russia, Europeans are looking to […] More
German Defense Industry Gearing Up
Germany is emerging as a major defense player in Europe. With the UK leaving the EU, Germany and France are now leading Europe’s efforts to […] More
Turkey’s Drift from the EU and NATO Could Be Permanent
Relations between Turkey and the European Union – already fraught – have deteriorated swiftly over the last few months. In June, the refusal of […] More
Turkey Has Lost Its Biggest Cheerleader: The U.S. Military
Turkey’s relations with the EU and place within NATO have come under increased scrutiny over the past year, especially during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s […] More
NATO Struggles to Align Turkey and Germany
In the run up to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s campaign to win a constitutional referendum this April, rhetorical vitriol between Turkey and EU countries […] More