Trump and The Wizard of Oz
In this GOP presidential nomination campaign, when the issue is national security, Donald Trump reminds me of the Wizard of Oz. I thought of that […] More
United States
Syrian Ceasefire: Total Subterfuge
The Cipher Brief reached out to General Jack Keane to get his thoughts on the Syrian ceasefire agreement announced on February 12. Keane dismissed the […] More
The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Deepening U.S. Commitment to Asia
The Trans Pacific Partnership may be a signed deal, but it is far from seeing the light of day. Following seven years of mostly secret […] More
Impact on U.S. Security Interests
In New Zealand on 4 February, trade ministers from the twelve signatories to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) formally signed the pact, an important step towards […] More
What it Means for the Digital Economy
There has been a good deal of hype touting the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement as the first “21st Century” trade pact. Whether it […] More
On Worldwide Threats
The Islamic State (ISIS) is the “preeminent global” threat and remains determined to execute direct attacks against the U.S. homeland, the top U.S. intelligence official […] More
China’s Growing Space Capabilities
The United States has enjoyed unchallenged dominance in the space domain for years, but it appears that time has come to an end. China has […] More
Defense Spending
How many Americans understand – when they think of the Defense Department budget – that many of those billions are going to defend foreign countries […] More
The End of U.S. Space Supremacy
Space may be infinite, but it’s starting to get crowded around Earth. As more nations have gained the ability to send assets into orbit, a […] More
Space — No Longer a Sanctuary
One sign of how important space is to military operations, particularly U.S. military operations, is that the countries who are our most likely military opponents, […] More
Don’t Give Up on Afghanistan
By all accounts, the security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated sharply since U.S. and NATO troops ended combat operations in December 2014. The Taliban control […] More
The US and India: Strengthening Security Cooperation
As China, the current economic superpower of the East, becomes increasingly unstable and its markets unpredictable, many are focusing newfound attention southward on India. With […] More
Security and Stability in Afghanistan
With the international community focused on the expanding threat from ISIS, the persistent threat the Taliban poses to stability in Afghanistan seems to be getting […] More
The Role Pakistan Plays
Conventional wisdom expected the Taliban to pose a security challenge following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan. The Obama Administration and Afghan […] More
Improving Bilateral Relations
Former Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Teresita Schaffer, discussed with The Cipher Brief the continued importance of a close U.S.-India relationship. Schaffer explained India’s tenuous security […] More
Prioritizing American Engagement
Recent efforts by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have resurrected the idea of rapprochement between India and Pakistan. So […] More
Responding to Chinese Aggression
The United States rebalance to Asia has drawn mixed reviews from members of Congress. Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) discussed with The Cipher Brief the strengths […] More
Rethinking U.S. Strategy Toward China
Understanding China and its future ambitions is a fundamental first step in assessing the U.S.’ options on how to best engage China as an important strategic and economic partner. We asked former Acting […] More