Not all cyberattacks are designed to be covert. In fact, some are intended to be seen, blamed, and remembered. This post explores the strategic logic of cyber signaling, examining when states want attribution, why visibility can be more powerful than damage, and how cyber swaggering reshapes the landscape of coercion in the digital age. Read More…
China’s strategy in the South China Sea has increasingly relied on “gray zone” operations—assertive, coercive actions just below the threshold of armed conflict. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that Beijing’s aggressive tactics may be backfiring. Rather than subduing rival claimants, China’s coercion has galvanized regional opposition, strengthened U.S. alliances, and escalated military posturing in ways that risk trapping Beijing in a costly, self-defeating cycle of confrontation. This blog post explores how China’s approach is unraveling and what this means for the future of maritime competition in the Indo-Pacific. Read More…
Artificial Intelligence is no longer an experimental add-on to national security—it’s becoming the neural spine of modern intelligence operations. As AI systems integrate into collection, analysis, and dissemination, they reshape not just how intelligence is produced, but how decisions are made, risks are assessed, and policies are formed. Yet, the transition from human intuition to machine-assisted forecasting introduces a new tier of ethical, strategic, and operational complexity that intelligence professionals must now navigate. Read More…
In the wake of 9/11, U.S. surveillance capabilities expanded dramatically under laws like the USA PATRIOT Act. But as digital communication has evolved, so have concerns about privacy, constitutional overreach, and the legitimacy of intelligence operations. This post examines the historical and legal roots of American surveillance and argues for a rebalanced framework that upholds national security without undermining civil liberties. Read More…
Major powers increasingly use cyber operations to engage rivals below the threshold of war. Despite frequent attacks, states show strategic restraint, favoring espionage, disruption, and signaling over destruction. These dyadic cyber interactions are shaping the rules of 21st-century conflict. Read More…
