CEO & Publisher, The Cipher Brief, former CNN Intelligence Correspondent, Author, Master of War
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Articles by Suzanne Kelly
Dead Drop: May 31 - June 6
THE BUTCHER’S BILL: In her first public speech, delivered May 27 at Bletchley Park, GCHQ's new director Anne Keast-Butler assigned a number to Russia's war dead: nearly 500,000 of its soldiers killed since 2022. That figure is hard to confirm but BBC News says their organization has verified more than 223,000 names. Given that both sides closely guard their own casualty counts there are undoubtedly many more, perhaps as many as GCHQ cites.
Dead Drop: May 24 - 30
CHIPS ARE DOWN AS U.S. SPY AGENCIES ARE HUNGRY FOR MORE: America’s intelligence agencies are reportedly struggling to run cutting-edge AI tools because they can’t get enough advanced chips to power them, a shortage the White House reportedly addressed last week by approving a classified $9 billion request for new computing infrastructure, according to The New York Times.
Dead Drop: May 17 - 23
BOX SCORE – ULTRA CONFUSING: A CIA “whistleblower” told a Senate committee recently that the agency had secretly reclaimed 40 boxes of JFK assassination and MKUltra files that DNI Tulsi Gabbard had been preparing for declassification. Almost as quickly as the news broke, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna had gone on NewsNation to demand the boxes be returned. The event was described as a CIA “raid” on Gabbard's office, which seems, well, weird.
Dead Drop: May 10 - 16
JACK IS BACK – Which one, you ask?While The Dead Drop has been asking Hollywood Executive Producer Howard Gordon to bring Jack Bauer back for a long while now, the Jack we’re talking about this time is Jack Ryan. And he’s back with a reluctant mission turned full-on adventure in “Ghost War” on Amazon Prime. Consider this something of a warning order because the movie doesn’t actually come out until May 20 but we got a sneak preview.
Dead Drop: May 3 - 9
UNSURE ABOUT THAT ASSESSMENT: Reuters has an exclusive get, reporting that U.S. intelligence agencies have been tasked by senior administration officials with assessing how Iran would respond if President Trump simply declared unilateral victory in the two-month-old war and ended it. The assignment was said to be partly driven by concern that a grinding conflict could cost Republicans at the midterms.
Dead Drop: April 26 - May 2
REALLY OUT THERE — Congressman Tim Burchett (R,TN) last week, that yes, aliens are real, and he's been briefed on the videos and pictures. He also said that speaking out about the issue may be the reason behind a steady stream of death threats.
Dead Drop: April 19 - 25
EX-BRAZILIAN SPY CHIEF EX-DETAINEE: Just as the last week that fugitive former Brazilian intelligence chief Alexandre Ramagem had been nabbed by ICE agents in Orlando, he was apparently already on his way out the door. BBC reported on April 16 that Ramagem was quietly released from custody. ICE originally confirmed the detention but as far as we know has offered no explanation for either the arrest or the release.
Avoiding Another 9/11: 3 Key Reasons to Reauthorize Section 702
Editor's Note: Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was originally enacted as a post 9/11surveillance program that allows the government to collect electronic communications of foreign nationals located outside the United States without needing a warrant for each target. Supporters have called it 'indispensable' and critics worry about its potential use to surveil Americans. Section 702 is up for Congressional reauthorization this month.
Dead Drop: April 12 - 18
SECRET DIS-SERVICE: It has been alleged that a Secret Service agent-in-training for some reason decided to hone his surveillance skills by hiding a spy camera in a phone charger to watch his roommate, also a Secret Service trainee, at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. ABC News reports the trainee ran a weeks-long anonymous harassment campaign via text, suggesting a mysterious stranger was watching his suitemate's every move. The “why” is unclear.
Why Hasn’t Iran Buckled Under U.S.-Israeli Pressure?
EXPERT Q&A -- There are more questions than answers around the reported delivery of a U.S. 15-point plan presented to Iranian officials via a Pakistani interlocutor, with the intention to end the war, including whether the plan has been outright rejected by Iran.
Dead Drop: March 22 - 28
MORE THAN ONE WAY TO MEDDLE IN AN ELECTION: A unit of Russia's foreign intelligence service allegedly proposed staging a fake assassination attempt on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of the country's April 2026 parliamentary elections, according to The Washington Post, citing an internal SVR document obtained and authenticated by a European intelligence service.
At the Center of the World’s Most Dangerous Chokepoint
This is happening as Washington struggles to assemble an international coalition to help secure the vital shipping lane. U.S. officials have urged countries that rely heavily on Gulf energy exports to contribute naval forces to protect commercial shipping, but diplomatic efforts have been uneven as some governments hesitate to become directly involved in a rapidly escalating confrontation with Iran.
Dead Drop: March 15 - 21
TUCKER’S DEEP STATE TALES: Tucker Carlson posted a five-minute video Saturday night claiming that the CIA read his texts with Iranian contacts and is preparing a criminal referral against him to the Department of Justice - punishment, he implies, for his journalism before the U.S. struck Iran. Let’s explore some context, shall we? The CIA is statutorily barred from domestic surveillance on U.S. persons.
Dead Drop: March 8-14
FRESH PRINCE OF KATHMANDU: As readers of The Cipher Brief’s March 3 know, the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, wedged between the world's two most populous nations, just handed its government to a political party led by a former rapper. Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician, is headed for the prime minister's office after his Rastriya Swatantra Party swept Nepal's first parliamentary election since last year's Gen Z uprising toppled the old government.
Dead Drop: March 1-7
PROFITABLE BEAN SPILLING? Don’t know if they have been hanging out at Joe’s Seafood – but CoinDesk reports that a lot of people have been investing their hope in Polymarket wagering on the looming crisis in Iran. Six “wallets” reportedly earned a total of $1.2 million by correctly betting that a U.S. strike against Iran would happen by February 28. Overall, Polymarket has attracted more than half a billion dollars in wagers on various options - and that was before the first bomb landed.
Evelyn Farkas on Alliances, Ukraine, and China’s Growing Challenge
EXPERT INTERVIEW — Evelyn Farkas has spent decades working at the center of U.S. national security and transatlantic defense policy. A former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia, she now serves as Executive Director of the McCain Institute, where she focuses on strengthening democratic alliances and confronting authoritarian threats.
Dead Drop: February 22-28
WHAT WOULD PETRAEUS SAY? — More than 195K people (and counting) have now watched The Cipher Brief’s YouTube interview with former CIA Director General David Petraeus (Ret.). We caught up with the general in Munich earlier this month at the Munich Security Conference, just after he stepped off the train from Ukraine, (where he’s traveled some nine times since Russia’s full-scale invasion). In our very popular conversation, Gen.
Dead Drop: February 15 - 21
If you're looking for the latest water cooler buzz in the national security community, look no further. Here's what we're whispering about in the break room: ANALYST-WRITER-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – Maybe not exactly Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy but it still sounds like a pretty exciting career path. Just ask David McCloskey, who Deadline says just signed a deal with Prologue Entertainment for a ‘first look’ at his future work.
Inside the High-Stakes U.S. Pressure Campaign on Iran
After meeting with the president in Washington this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is less optimistic about a deal, telling reporters on Thursday that “...I expressed general skepticism about any agreement with Iran, but I said that if an agreement is reached, it must include the elements that are important to Israel: not only the nuclear program, but also the ballistic missiles, and also the Iranian proxies.” Meanwhile, Iran’s national security chief Ali Larijani is warning...
The Former Head of NSA on the Future of U.S. Cybersecurity
EXPERT INTERVIEW -- General Paul Nakasone (ret.) has spent a career at the very center of America's most invisible battlefields. He has served as both director of the National Security Agency and commander of U.S. Cyber Command, two roles that sit at the intersection of intelligence, technology, and modern warfare.
Dead Drop: February 8-14
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? NO? GOOD: Denmark's intelligence service is apparently so concerned about foreign eavesdropping that they've told government officials and police to ditch their AirPods and go old school. The Danish Security and Intelligence Service issued warnings to stop using Bluetooth devices on phones, tablets, laptops, and similar devices “until further notice.” The Bluetooth blackout comes amid tensions over the Trump administration’s fixation on Greenland.
The Country’s First ‘Cognitive Advantage’ Chief: Influence Is the New Battlefield
What, exactly, does a Director of Cognitive Advantage do? It’s not a title most Americans encounter, and it sits far outside the familiar contours of diplomacy, military force, or economic leverage. But as Chenoweth explains, the contest for influence no longer stays neatly within those lanes either.
After Maduro’s Removal, the U.S. Faces Its Hardest Test Yet in Venezuela
A 37-yr. CIA veteran, David Fitgerald retired in 2021 as Chief of Station in a Middle Eastern country, which hosted CIA’s largest field station. As a seven-time Chief of Station, Fitzgerald served in numerous conflict zones to include Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and South Asia. He also held senior HQS positions that included Latin America Chief of Operations and Latin America Deputy Division Chief.
Is Venezuela the Next Battleground for Strategic Influence and Control?
OPINION -- Venezuela presents a long-standing challenge tied to narcotics trafficking and transnational criminal networks. For years, the country has functioned as a major transit hub for illicit drug flows, money laundering, and organized crime, with direct consequences for U.S. domestic security and for stability across the Western Hemisphere. These realities alone justify sustained U.S. attention. But criminal activity does not explain Venezuela’s full strategic significance.
Winter is Coming to Ukraine as it Faces a New Kind of War and Uncertainty About a Key Ally
EXPERT INTERVIEW — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Berlin on Monday for an intense round of diplomacy with top U.S. and European officials, part of a fast-moving push to find a workable plan to end the war. His meetings follow an unusually long session on Sunday with President Donald Trump’s envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who claimed significant progress in their discussions.
The Cipher Brief's Recommended Reads for the Holidays
BOOK REVIEWS & RECOMMENDATIONS -- Welcome to our annual holiday book review and recommendations list, where we highlight some of the terrific books that have been reviewed and featured in The Cipher Brief in recent months. Since our summer newsletter, we've covered and reviewed more than 35 books ‚Äď often sliced and diced by world-class subject matter experts. In this newsletter, we‚Äôve singled out about a dozen that received our highest four out of four ‚Äútrench coat‚ÄĚ rating.
What to Watch for in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Visit to Washington
EXPERT INTERVIEW — President Trump is welcoming Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House today with an announcement that he plans to approve the sale of F-35 fighter jets to the Kingdom, signaling a policy shift by the U.S. Administration. The visit to Washington marks one of the most consequential moments in decades for the U.S.–Saudi relationship.
Former CIA Station Chief on the Trump Administration’s Caribbean Strategy
EXPERT INTERVIEW — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced today that the U.S. has carried out three additional strikes on four sea vessels, bringing the total number of attacks on boats to 13, resulting in more than 57 deaths. The Secretary said 14 people were killed and one person survived yesterday’s attacks targeting drug traffickers. The Secretary posted on X that, “The Department has spent over TWO DECADES defending other homelands. Now, we’re defending our own.
Witness to a Sea Change in the Middle East: Jack Keane Says Israel Has a Window to Break Iran’s Proxies
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE – The White House rolled out a20-point plan on Monday calling for a permanent truce in Israel's war against Hamas that calls for the release of hostages. President Trump is calling the plan the most significant effort yet to secure peace in the region.
Defiance Meets Desperation as Iran Faces Fresh UN Sanctions
President Masoud Pezeshkian insists Iran has no intention of building nuclear weapons, calling the sanctions “unfair and illegal.” But the move marks another blow to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the deal meant to cap Iran’s enrichment and research while allowing civilian nuclear energy. Iran accelerated banned nuclear activity after Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal in 2018, repeatedly dismissing the accord as flawed.
Can NATO Still Scare Putin?
EXPERT INTERVIEW – Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed a classified decree over the weekend allowing armed forces of NATO member states to be present in his country after Poland’s airspace was violated by an incursion of 19 Russian drones last week. Moscow’s incursion, which Western security experts see as a ‘test’ by Russia (even though it has denied those claims) that has prompted a series of responses intended to fend off a potential Russian attack in the future. And Poland isn’t alone.
Putin's Drone Hit a NATO Nerve in Poland, Opening an Opportunity for Ukraine
In a swift response, NATO announced that it is bolstering it’s eastern flank defenses. Germany is expanding air policing over Poland. France is sending 3 Rafale fighter jets and The Netherlands is sending two Patriot air defenses, NASAMS and counter drone systems to Warsaw. The Czech Republic is sending additional helicopters and up to 150 soldiers to help defend Poland’s borders.
Impact of Israel Airstrike on Hamas in Doha Qatar
EXPERT INTERVIEW – The military operation dubbed ‘Summit of Fire’ by Israel Defense Forces targeting a Hamas delegation meeting in Doha, Qatar this week has complicated an already fragile ecosystem in The Middle East as experts assess the broader regional impact.
The missile threat against the U.S. has quietly and significantly grown over the past four decades as U.S. adversaries have added more sophisticated missiles to their arsenals, investing in both the scope of their systems as well as their ability to reach
The name itself, the Golden Dome, is meant to echo Israel’s battlefield-proven Iron Dome, the short-range rocket defense system that has proven incredibly effective at saving Israeli lives.
Saudi Crown Prince Prepares for a Washington Reset - With Trillions at Stake
EXCLUSIVE EXPERT INTERVIEW -- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to visit Washington this November according to sources cited by Bloomberg, as the two countries work to finalize details around the hundreds of millions of dollars in business deals that were signed during the U.S. president’s visit to Riyadh in May.
Unity at the White House Sharpens Pressure on Putin
CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING -- President Donald Trump said Monday that he is moving forward with plans to arrange a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in what is being seen as the next crucial step toward bringing an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
From the Front Lines of Ukraine: A Soldier’s Warning to America
Editor’s Note: As President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin talk about meeting face-to-face in Alaska later this week to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine, The Cipher Brief is publishing this raw and unfiltered personal account of today’s war through the eyes of a former U.S. Special Forces operator, who is fighting alongside Ukrainian soldiers. We have granted his request for anonymity for personal security reasons. You can read more from the author on his X account.
The Weekend Interview: Former CIA Station Chief on Strategic Global Hotspots
Because the two countries sit in an energy-producing part of the world shared by Russia, Europe, Iran and Turkey where the movement of oil and gas through numerous pipelines has been hampered by regional conflict. As part of the deal, Armenia says it will provide the U.S. with exclusive development rights through a transit corridor to be named the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).
The Middle East is Reshuffling the Deck. Is the U.S. Ready to Play a New Hand?
EXPERT INTERVIEW – The past year has brought a whirlwind of dramatic developments in the Middle East, reshaping long-held assumptions about the region’s balance of power and its future trajectory.
Dead Drop: August 1
AT THE TOP OF THE GOSSIP LIST: A closer look at what the CIA’s venture capital arm is doing with its money, the Secretary of the Navy is shuffling some seats on deck and not everybody loves the Blue Angels. FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD (IDEA): A recent story in Fortune drills down on the CIA-backed venture capital firm In-Q-Tel.
How We Encourage Self-Improvement at Buffer
At Buffer, one of our core values is Focus on Self-Improvement. But a value on its own doesn’t create action. Values need structure and support behind them. I’m Suzanne, Buffer’s Operations Manager. Part of my role is building and executing the systems that help turn our values into reality. In this article, I’ll share how we support self-improvement at Buffer and how our teammates are tapping into those resources in their own ways. Let’s take a look behind the scenes.
Sabotage Without Warning: Why the Gray Zone Could Be America’s Biggest Blind Spot
EXPERT BRIEFING — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced this week that 32 people have been detained since the start of Moscow’s war with Ukraine for allegedly coordinating with Russia to carry out sabotage in Poland. One person has been convicted, while the others remain in custody awaiting trial. The suspects include nationals from Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and a 27-year-old Colombian man accused of carrying out two arson attacks on construction warehouses in May 2024.
Can the U.S. Fix a Broken System of Acquiring Weapons?
The Trump administration issued three executive orders in April designed to address the issues, citing a need to “accelerate defense procurement and revitalize the defense industrial base,” “rapidly reform our antiquated defense acquisition processes,” and to bring “common sense to federal procurement.” The orders were rare in that they received little opposition in Washington.
China's Disinformation Offensive in Taiwan
CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING - TAIPEI, Taiwan—During last year’s Presidential election in Taiwan, rumors swirled that Victor Lai Ching-te of the anti-Beijing Democratic Progress Party fathered an illegitimate child. Rumors also circulated that his running mate, Hsiao Bi-khim, had misrepresented the status of her U.S. citizenship, falsely claiming to have renounced it to meet the eligibility requirements for office.
Dead Drop: July 18
CIA’S EXISTENTIAL THREAT: It might not be what you think, according to former CIA Executive Mark Kelton, who wrote a piece exclusively in The Cipher Brief this week saying the greatest threat to the Agency’s future may not come from a foreign adversary but is more likely to stem from a lack of trust - not just with policy makers, but with the public, too.
Ukraine’s Defense may Hinge on Offensive Operations
CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING – Russia has been bombarding Ukrainian cities with massive aerial assaults, two days after U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to send more anti-missile weapons systems to Kyiv. Trump also issued an ultimatum of additional U.S. sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin fails to end his attacks and agree to a ceasefire within 50 days – as of Monday.
CIA's Latest Existential Challenge
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE / OPINION -- Today, the Central Intelligence Agency faces a crisis of trust. While CIA officers have long confronted adversaries abroad, the Agency now finds itself navigating an increasingly politicized relationship with the American public it serves. A dangerous perception has taken root in recent years, namely that the CIA, intended to be apolitical by design, has become a partisan actor in our polarized national politics.
How Trump Can Be the Winning President in Ukraine
“To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing…” — Winston S. Churchill OPINION -- Winston Churchill would have recognized the current situation in the U.S. relationship with Russia as a unique opportunity to make a mark on history.
Getting Inside the Mind of Xi Jinping
CIPHER BRIEF EXPERT INTERVIEW -- Taiwan launched its largest annual military exercise to date this week, amid growing concern that China is on the cusp of launching a military operation to to take control of the island by force.
As Taiwan Launches Military Drills, a Pressing Question for Washington
TAIPEI, TAIWAN —Taiwan’s annual military exercise launching this week, will be its largest ever, mobilizing more than 22,000 reservists in response to what officials describe as escalating military pressure from Beijing. The Han Kuang drills are expected to last 10 days in concurrence with civil defense drills.
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