The Real Threat Posed by EMPs
The national security threat posed by an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) is not the kind of thing you hear talked about often in Washington’s national security […] More
The Cipher Brief
North Korea EMP Attack: An Existential Threat Today
Dr. Peter Vincent Pry is executive director of the Task Force on National and Homeland Security. He served on the Congressional EMP Commission as chief […] More
National Security Science: Earthquake or Nuclear Test?
With ongoing and often frustrating nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea and heightened tensions between nuclear neighbors India and Pakistan over Kashmir, having a […] More
The Army’s Cyber Teams of the Future
OPINION — The U.S. Army is working on major changes in doctrine, organization and training “to develop a force that can effectively engage great-power competitors, […] More
Pro-Democracy Protests Rock Hong Kong and Moscow
Bottom Line Up Front In Hong Kong and Moscow, long-simmering undercurrents of political opposition have pitted protesters against unrepresentative authoritarian governments. In Moscow, police […] More
What Could Prompt Chinese Intervention in Hong Kong?
Protestors in Hong Kong are sticking by their demands which include a formal withdrawal of an extradition bill that launched protestors onto the streets earlier this […] More
The Growing Threat of Domestic Terrorism
The Cipher Brief is bringing you a range of perspectives this week on the threat of domestic terrorism and what a range of experts say […] More
Countering Violent Extremism in the United States
The U.S. has been fighting a global network of violent Islamic extremist organizations like ISIS and Al-Qaeda for close to 20 years, but as the […] More
What Really Happened at CIA Black Sites
Former CIA and FBI official Phil Mudd knows a lot of details you probably don’t about CIA black sites. He knows, because he was associated […] More
Strzok Case Looks at Privacy versus Politics
OPINION — The alleged Privacy Act violation by Trump administration officials in publicly disclosing former FBI Special Agent Peter Strzok’s personal text messages without his […] More
Cipher Brief Experts Weigh in on Gordon’s Departure
The resignation of both Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and his deputy Susan Gordon, both taking effect on August 15th, mean big changes are […] More
Sue Gordon’s Rock and a Hard Place
One of the country’s leading Intelligence professionals made her way quietly to the White House late Thursday afternoon to deliver her letter of resignation to […] More
India’s Dangerous Move in Kashmir
The Indian-administered area of Kashmir has been on lockdown since the Indian government said earlier this week that it was revoking the region of its […] More
Kim Jung Un’s Hubris
North Korean leader Kim Jung Un’s recent actions were disturbing – and potentially dangerous. After two summits with President Donald Trump and an historic June […] More
Where Will Protests Lead Hong Kong?
The director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs office says the city is experiencing its worst crisis since the colony returned to China from […] More
MbS’ Influence in the Middle East and Beyond
Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammad bin Salman (MbS) finds himself in an interesting situation these days with his influence waning throughout the […] More
No Intermediate Arms Race Needed
OPINION — The U.S. has a triad of strategic nuclear weapons, air-launched from bombers, sea-launched from submarines, and land-based intercontinental missiles launched from underground silos. […] More
Stopping Violent Extremism
This weekend’s back to back shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio highlight, in the deadliest way, growing concerns that the U.S. is fighting […] More