Many intelligence agencies were caught off-guard by the Arab Spring in 2011. Similarly, many agencies failed to anticipate the Islamic State taking over Mosul in 2014. Yet, the reasons behind these instances of strategic surprise were not new at all. They were already apparent over 25 years before, prior to the Iranian Revolution, and still pervade contemporary intelligence work.
Tag: United States
The weekly briefing, 8 November 2016: Kenya withdraws troops from UN mission in South Sudan, over 200 people drown in two shipwrecks off coast of Libya, pro-government rallies in Malaysia against independent news website
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: Kenya withdraws troops from UN mission in South Sudan after UN commander sacked; over 200 people drown in two shipwrecks off coast of Libya; pro-government rallies in Malaysia against independent news website reportedly funded by George Soros’s Open Society Foundation; and more.
The weekly briefing, 18 October 2016: DR Congo government delays presidential election, Venezuelan president passes 2017 budget by decree, Iraqi government and Kurdish forces launch campaign to retake Mosul
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: DR Congo government announces it is delaying next month’s presidential election until 2018; Venezuelan president passes government’s 2017 budget without approval of congress; Iraqi government and Kurdish forces launch long-awaited campaign to retake Mosul from Islamic State; and more.
The weekly briefing, 11 October 2016: North Korea likely preparing for new nuclear test, United States blames Russia for recent hacks of American political groups, Ethiopian government declares state of emergency
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: North Korea likely preparing for new nuclear test; US intelligence agencies blame Russian government for recent hacks of American political groups and subsequent leaks; Ethiopian government declares state of emergency; and more.
The weekly briefing, 5 October 2016: investigation into downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 concludes plane was shot down by Russian SAM, Houthi rebels in Yemen name ‘prime minister’ and will establish new government of ‘national salvation’, United States confirms reports of new military air base in Agadez in central Niger
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: investigation into downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 concludes plane was shot down by Russian SAM brought into Ukraine from Russia and fired from rebel-controlled territory; Houthi rebels in Yemen name ‘prime minister’ and will establish new government of ‘national salvation’ to rival internationally-backed government in the south; United States confirms reports of new military air base in Agadez in central Niger capable of deploying drones; and more.
The weekly briefing, 20 September 2016: FBI gathering evidence to indict Russian state-sponsored hackers, Australia plans significant private sector involvement in ensuring cybersecurity, sea ice in Arctic region at second-lowest level since records began
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: FBI gathering evidence to indict Russian state-sponsored actors behind hacks and attempted breaches of networks and systems of several US political parties and figures; Australia plans significant private sector involvement in ensuring cybersecurity; sea ice in Arctic region at second-lowest level since records began; and more.
The weekly briefing, 13 September 2016: High Negotiations Committee of the Syrian Opposition sets out roadmap for transition from civil war, two brothers arrested in west London on suspicion of planning Paris-style terrorist attack, General Khalifa Haftar’s forces seize key oil terminals in Libya’s ‘oil crescent’
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: High Negotiations Committee of the Syrian Opposition sets out roadmap for transition from civil war, two brothers arrested in west London on suspicion of planning Paris-style terrorist attack, General Khalifa Haftar’s forces seize key oil terminals in Libya’s ‘oil crescent’ held by supporters of UN-backed Libyan government.
Remote-control warfare briefing #17, August 2016: NATO designates cyberspace as an operational domain, US releases official estimates of deaths from drone strikes, Iraqi special forces play critical role retaking Fallujah
Monthly briefing from the Open Briefing intelligence unit on developments in remote-control warfare. This month: NATO designates cyberspace as an operational domain and includes cyber attacks in Article 5; newly-released official estimates of casualties from US drone strikes step in right direction but too limited; Iraqi special forces play critical role retaking Fallujah from Islamic State; and more.