A Day to Remember

Memorial Day began as a way to remember those who died while in military service to their country.  Here at The Cipher Brief, we wanted to know what our experts, some of them with military backgrounds, and others who spent their careers in the Intelligence Community, are remembering this year. ...

The Stars on the Wall

Kevin Hulbert is a former senior intelligence officer in the CIA’s Directorate of Operations who retired in June 2014, having served multiple overseas tours as CIA Chief of Station and Deputy Chief of Station.  He is currently the President of XK Group.   On many days, but especially on Memorial ...

Cipher Brief Analysis: The Pakistan Problem

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan recently returned from China without the concrete funding assurances that he was seeking in order to keep his country from having to request a second bailout from the International Monetary Fund. Pakistan has repeatedly turned to China and Saudi Arabia for financial assistance, while the ...

The Rise of the Afghan Taliban

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is welcoming a ceasefire offer made to the Afghan Taliban over the weekend by the Afghan government.  The offer comes as the Afghan Taliban stretches its lethal reach across Afghanistan with violent campaigns that have been building in intensity since earlier this year.  Recent ...