Singapore a Success? Yes, by Mirroring Obama
Much initial reaction to the North Korean – American Singapore Summit has been negative, with critics targeting the concessions made by President Trump including; a […] More
Barack Obama
Change Has Not Come to the Middle East
At first glance, it would appear that the Middle East President Donald J. Trump now faces is far different than the region which confronted President […] More
The Mideast’s Front Burner Issues
The Middle East went through maelstrom developments during the Obama Administration. Some of these were put into motion by the 2003 American invasion of Iraq. […] More
Follow Obama's Lead on Cybersecurity
In the fall of 2008, a bipartisan group of cybersecurity experts delivered some sage advice to Barack Obama, set to become president in January: “Don’t […] More
The Latest
President Obama’s Legacy: Arms Exporter in Chief
As President Barack Obama heads out of office, he leaves behind an unexpected legacy: as arms exporter-in-chief. “The Obama administration has made more major arms […] More
President Obama’s Legacy in Europe: A Mixed Bag
A bubble burst, consumers cut spending, and investment plummeted. Unemployment soared to astronomical levels, banks failed, and U.S. GDP declined. Europe and the rest of […] More
Obama's Legacy on Myanmar
Thirteen years ago, on a reporting assignment for The Boston Globe, I described “Burma” as a “deteriorating” country where “the frayed fabric of a nation […] More
A Changing of the Guard: U.S. Counterterrorism Policy
Though January will see a major transition in American power, the global threat of terrorism will remain. As the Obama Administration enters its final weeks […] More
A Problem Larger than Terrorism
As the calendar approaches January 21st and President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, the Cipher Brief sat down with Patrick Skinner of the Soufan […] More
The Post-Caliphate Counterterrorism Challenge
The Cipher Brief spoke with network member and former Acting Director of the CIA, John McLaughlin, about the current U.S. counterterrorism strategy, as well as […] More
Putin Rules Out Retaliatory Expulsion of U.S. Diplomats
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a statement Friday that he will not expel U.S. diplomats in response to U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia yesterday […] More
A Legacy in the Making: Obama's Approach to Security Sector Assistance
From drone warfare to the targeting of Osama Bin Laden, President Barack Obama’s legacy on peace and security issues is largely being defined by a […] More
Obama’s Legacy in the Middle East: One Size Doesn’t Fit All
As the United States prepares for a new administration, The Cipher Brief‘s Leone Lakhani sits down with Ambassador Dennis Ross, Counselor at the Washington Institute […] More
Countering Russian Aggression in the Trump Era
A Congressional inquiry next year into Russian involvement in the U.S. presidential election will be only one of several Legislative Branch initiatives that may interrupt […] More
President Obama's Counterterrorism Legacy
In what many expect to be the final national security speech of his presidency, U.S. President Barack Obama reflected on U.S. counterterrorism achievements during his […] More
Comprehensive Terrorism Strategy Needed
The Cipher Brief sat down with Bruce Hoffman, Director for Security Studies at Georgetown University, to discuss President Obama’s counterterrorism legacy and the outlook for […] More
Presidents vs. The Kremlin
Naiveté is never a good way to approach foreign policy challenges. However, it seems that every new Presidential Administration has a tendency to place hope […] More
Obama's Legacy on Russia and China: Making the Grade
When asked recently by The Atlantic about President Barack Obama’s foreign policy legacy with China, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger replied: “I’d say B-plus.” […] More
Obama Failed to Understand Putin
As 2016 draws to a close and along with it the presidency of Barack Obama, it is perhaps time to reflect on the relationship with […] More