National Security and the Orthodoxy of Tribes
Carmen Medina is a former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence. A 32-year veteran of the Intelligence Community, she is also the author of Rebels at […] More
national security
Defining the IC’s Mission Space for Climate Change
As part of a special series on climate in partnership with The Intelligence Project at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, and […] More
Some Thoughts on the Second Order Effects of Ransomware and National Security
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.” – Daniel Patrick Moynihan Kevin J. Buckley retired from the Central Intelligence Agency […] More
Why the China – Russia Relationship Should Worry You – Part Two
Ties between Russia and China go far beyond mutual lessons-learned and policy coordination. They have entered into cooperative arrangements that pose clear dangers for the […] More
Why the China – Russia Relationship Should Worry You – Part One
In 1937, Winston Churchill contrasted the “two rival religions” of Nazism and Communism then afflicting the world. Those fascist and communist “infernal twins”, he wrote, […] More
Doing Business with Hackers, Terrorists and Dictators
Dr. Kenneth Dekleva served as a Regional Medical Officer/Psychiatrist (including 5 years at the U.S. Embassy Moscow, Russian Federation) with the U.S. Dept. of State […] More
Mapping China by the Numbers: The Role of International Cooperation
As part of a week-long series focused on Mapping China’s Ambitions, The Cipher Brief is partnering with Harvard Research Fellow and former British diplomat Jamie Burnham […] More
Mapping China by the Numbers: Toward a Government Data Ecosystem
As part of a week-long series focused on Mapping China’s Ambitions, The Cipher Brief is partnering with Harvard Research Fellow and former British diplomat Jamie Burnham […] More
Mapping China by the Numbers: Organizing to Win
As part of a week-long series focused on Mapping China’s Ambitions, The Cipher Brief is partnering with Harvard Research Fellow and former British diplomat Jamie Burnham […] More
We Know What Space Wars Will Look Like
Walter Pincus is a contributing senior national security columnist for The Cipher Brief. He spent forty years at The Washington Post, writing on topics from nuclear […] More
Afghanistan: Losers Can’t Be Choosers
Bottom Line Up Front: There are indications that the Taliban have no intention of reaching a compromise and believe they can take over Afghanistan shortly […] More
Mapping China by the Numbers: Ambitions and Threat Vectors
On 25 September 2017, the board of UK-based Imagination Technologies, founded in 1985 (and listed on the LSE in 1994), agreed to a take-over by […] More
Where the US-ROK Summit May Lead
Cipher Brief Expert Joseph R. DeTrani served as the special envoy for negotiations with North Korea from 2003-2006 and is the former director of the […] More
How the Middle East Conflict Leads Back to US National Security
In the Biden Administration’s highest-level face-to-face visit, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to the Middle East to seize momentum created by last week’s […] More
Netanyahu’s Obsession and the Palestinian Uprising
Cipher Brief Expert Emile Nakhleh is a retired CIA Senior Intelligence Service Officer and founding director of the CIA’s Political Islam Strategic Analysis Program Office. […] More
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 Good, the Bad and the Ugly Reality of Afghanistan
Cipher Brief Expert John McLaughlin served as Acting CIA Director from July to September 2004 and as Deputy Director from October 2000 to July 2004. […] More
How to Integrate Climate in Future National Security
As part of a special series on climate in partnership with The Intelligence Project at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, and […] More