Members Only The Drone Series: A New Battle in the Air
“The Cipher Brief has become the most popular outlet for former intelligence officers; no media outlet is even a close second to The Cipher Brief […] More
Latest United States Briefs
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Members Only China’s foray among Pacific Islands provokes U.S., Australian concerns
A security agreement signed by China and the Solomon Islands in April, has created waves of concern throughout the region and reaching as far as […] More
The Potential of Integrating Intelligence and Intuition
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — When I was just starting out at CIA, there was an analyst in my group who worked in a particularly methodical way. […] More
Soviet Espionage Under the Cover of Diplomacy
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — Immediately after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last month, the US government expelled 13 Russian diplomats working at the United Nations. It did […] More
US Intelligence is only as Good as what goes into it
OPINION — Officers in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)’s Directorate of Operations (DO) have a penchant for action and readiness to serve in any circumstance. […] More
Intelligence Isn’t Just for Commanders Anymore
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — Intelligence is for commanders, or at least so I’ve been told. Regardless of the term you prefer—commander, principal, or policymaker—the idea expressed […] More
The Real Power of Intelligence ‘Auxiliaries’
The democratization of intelligence is changing how espionage is done – and by whom. How can states best achieve their aims in an age of […] More
Members Only The US is Engaging in a Strategy to Share Intelligence on Russia More Broadly. Is it Worth the Risk?
“The Cipher Brief has become the most popular outlet for former intelligence officers; no media outlet is even a close second to The Cipher Brief […] More
The Intelligence Game is Changing. Are We Ready?
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — As retirees of the Clandestine Service at the CIA, we worked for decades in the shadows around the world, at ease in […] More
Corporate Intelligence Playbook: Part 2
FEATURE — Occasionally, we ask Cipher Brief Experts with experience in both the public and private sectors to share their thoughts on security-related issues. You […] More
Corporate Intelligence Playbook: Part 1
FEATURE — Occasionally, we ask Cipher Brief Experts with experience in both the public and private sectors to share their thoughts on security-related issues. The […] More
The Urgency of the Moment for Congress on AI and National Security
(Editor’s Note: This article is the fifth and final article in a series first published by our friends at Just Security that is dives into the foundational […] More
CIA Deputy for Digital Innovation Talks Mission, Partnerships and Espionage Challenges
CIA Deputy Director for Digital Innovation Jennifer Ewbank said recently “the cyber forces and other threats that we confront across the digital landscape are formidable […] More
The Human Cost of War: My Own Failure and Our Military’s Mental Health Crisis
Our military culture and expectations justifiably require unrelenting standards and there is very little space for human vulnerability, especially in SOF and those in leadership […] More
How to Avoid Cold War with China
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — A meeting – albeit virtual – between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping finally happened. It was a cordial and […] More
Winter is Coming: Global Energy Markets and the Impact on National Security
Colder weather is settling in around much of the globe and after a year and a half of managing a global pandemic, energy markets are […] More
A Roadmap for AI in the IC
A Roadmap for AI in the Intelligence Community (Editor’s Note: This article was first published by our friends at Just Security and is the fourth […] More
AI and the IC: The Tangled Web of Budget and Acquisition
Corin Stone, Washington College of Law Corin Stone is a Scholar-in-Residence and Adjunct Professor at the Washington College of Law. Stone is on leave from the […] More
Members Only Why the China – Russia Relationship Should Worry You – Part Two
When the PRC decides to move on Taiwan, it is unlikely to move in a manner that makes a US decision on intervention clear cut. […] More
Intelligence Sharing in a Complicated World: The Future of Five Eyes
In the midst of World War II, facing multiple threats in a complicated series of engagements around the world, the US and the UK entered […] More
Members Only An Expert Brief on Economic Security, Investment and Jurisdictional Risk
A rarely discussed but high impact trend that seems to have been amplified by the COVID-19 virus is affecting investment in countries that have traditionally […] More
The US Intelligence Community Needs a ‘Wild Bill’ Moment
Ellen McCarthy, Former Asst. Secretary of State for Intelligence & Research Cipher Brief Expert Ellen E. McCarthy was appointed by President Trump to be the […] More
The U.S. Needs a Stronger Cyber Defense Against Russia
Paul Kolbe, Director, Intelligence Project, Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs Paul Kolbe is Director of The Intelligence Project at Harvard University’s […] More
Why Cyber Criminals are Winning
Cipher Brief Expert Alex Cresswell led an operational division of GCHQ and served in the Cabinet Office, directing the team of analysts (the Joint Intelligence Organisation) which […] More