How I Build My Own Brief
TRUSTED SOURCE – In this day of disinformation and facts blending routinely with political opinion and being passed off as objective news, The Cipher Brief […] More
The Cipher Brief
All Eyes On Iran
OPINION — As 2019 drew to a close, while foreign adversary leaders such as President Putin, President Xi, and Chairman Kim often attracted the largest […] More
The Danger of Terrorist Retaliation
Since his death at the hands of a US drone strike in Baghdad last week, much has been said about Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and […] More
Not Everyone Sees Soleimani’s Death the Same Way
In an interview with FOX News after the drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani last week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said “Frankly, […] More
What’s Next for Iran?
The killing of Iranian Quds Force chief Qassem Soleimani has drawn sharp condemnation from Iran. American politicians – while agreeing that Soleimani was a threat […] More
Avenging the Death of Qassem Soleimani
The U.S. targeting and killing of Iranian Quds Force General Qassem Soleimani by a drone strike in Baghdad on Friday has prompted a series of […] More
Cyber is the New Nuclear
OPINION — The Trump administration’s new attempt to open strategic nuclear talks with China “ASAP,” as mentioned in a State Department tweet last Friday, focuses […] More
A 2020 U.S. Strategy for Latin America
Patrick Duddy served as the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela from 2007 to 2010. He is now teaches at Duke University where he is also the […] More
Extreme Inequality Will Fuel Middle East Turmoil in 2020
OPINION — As the Middle East bids farewell to 2019 and welcomes the new year, the peoples of the region have precious little to celebrate. […] More
30 Years After the Fall of the Wall
This Academic Incubator column is part of an academic partnership with the Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology, presenting regular […] More
A Single Solution for a Rogue Russia
Cipher Brief expert Robert Dannenberg is a 24-year veteran of the CIA, where he served in several senior leadership positions, including chief of operations for […] More
Sorting Facts from Propaganda
OPINION — “The function of truth is to bring to light the hidden facts, to set them into relation with each other, and make a […] More
Is the Maximum Pressure Campaign Working with Iran?
As the U.S. continues to announce new sanctions aimed at Iran, there are some signs that indicate the U.S. policy of applying maximum pressure on […] More
Reconsidering Great Power Competition Below Armed Conflict
The Gray Zone is that place between war and peace where actors use a range of elements at their disposal to effect outcome. We see […] More
Leaders to Watch in 2020
OPINION — As 2019 draws to a close, it is worth re-examining not only which leaders attracted media attention, but also looking ahead with respect […] More
Kim Jong Un’s Frustration and the Risk of Hybrid Warfare
EXPERT OPINION — Kim Jong-un is a desperate man. He has long believed that Donald Trump’s unpredictability and their quirky friendship offers him the best, […] More
The Most Tiresome Truths on Syria
OPINION — It has been several years since I thought deeply about Syria. And that is a shame, given my long time affection for the […] More
Kim Jong-Un’s Bad Advice
Cipher Brief Expert Ambassador Joseph R. DeTrani was the former Special Envoy for Negotiations with North Korea. OPINION — North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, is […] More