Daniel N. Hoffman
Columns by Daniel N. Hoffman
Honoring Mike Spann: New book shines a light on a CIA officer’s heroism
I never met Marine Corps officer and CIA paramilitary Case Officer Mike Spann, the first American killed in combat in Afghanistan. But I was deeply knowledgeable of Mr. Spann's sacred mission. Published November 18, 2021
Celebrating a hero on Veterans Day
Veteran's Day is a sacred opportunity for remembering and honoring our nation's military personnel and their families. Published November 4, 2021
Biden admin. must do better protecting those left behind in Afghanistan
A few years back I was serving in a Middle East war zone when one of our sources, a valuable asset who had penetrated al Qaeda's Baghdad network, came within a hair's breadth of losing his life. Published October 21, 2021
U.S. action needed as Libya’s fate hangs in the balance
Last month, the Libyan parliament passed a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah's transitional government, which risked derailing elections scheduled for late December. Published October 7, 2021
Nothing threatens Putin’s regime more than Ukraine
During a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House earlier this month, President Biden "firmly committed" to supporting Ukraine's sovereignty. Published September 22, 2021
In the post 9/11 world, good intelligence has proven more vital than ever
On the morning of September 11, 2001, my then-CIA colleague Rob was in Manhattan on the subway, headed to a 9 a.m. meeting in the World Trade Center. At 8:46 a.m., moments before he exited the subway, American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the Center's North Tower. Published September 8, 2021
Why Afghanistan is more dangerous
How ironic that as the 20th anniversary of 9/11 approaches Afghanistan is more of a clear and present danger to our nation than ever before. Published August 24, 2021
A 21st century digital Cold War with China and Russia
At their Geneva summit in June, President Biden confronted Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Kremlin's nefarious cyberattacks against the U.S. Published August 12, 2021
Another reason to revile Christopher Steele’s disastrous Trump dossier
Court filings released last month revealed new details about how Christopher Steele horrifically mismanaged a network of Russian contacts in compiling his infamous anti-Trump "dossier." Published July 29, 2021
Kim’s health only complicates the North Korean conundrum
Reappearing last month at a Politburo meeting after months out of the public spotlight, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un lambasted party officials for their failure to counter the coronavirus pandemic. Published July 15, 2021
At the CIA, Dave Marlowe is an inspired choice for a critical job
There is nothing more consequential for the director than promoting the best officers to the positions of greatest seniority and impact. Published July 1, 2021
‘Havana Syndrome’ and holding Russia accountable
Havana Syndrome was detected as early as 2016, when officials serving at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba fell ill with vertigo, headaches, fatigue and hearing loss. Published June 17, 2021
Biden must stand firm in date with wily Putin
At the tail end of his first international trip after meetings with G-7 leaders and NATO members, President Biden will hold a one-day summit June 16 with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Published June 3, 2021
A fallen colleague’s legacy lives on each Memorial Day
I'll never forget the spring day 14 years ago when my CIA colleague who was serving as our chief of air operations greeted me at the airport landing zone upon my return from leave to a Middle East war zone. Published May 30, 2021
Pentagon needs smarter shoppers to outpace China
China is continuing to close the technology gap, in large part through stealing intellectual property from U.S. private-sector firms. Published May 20, 2021
Stopping America’s adversaries from abusing our courts
The dilemma for U.S. policymakers is that neither sanctions nor diplomatic expulsions have ever successfully induced any change in the nefarious behavior of KGB operative who runs the Kremlin -- President Vladimir Putin. Published May 6, 2021
U.S. tested by Putin’s Ukraine playbook
According to President Vladimir Putin's press spokesman, Russia is massing troops on Ukraine's border solely to protect its citizens against a potential war in eastern Ukraine. Published April 22, 2021
Biden and Austin must listen to intelligence community in charting Afghanistan withdrawal
President Biden's new secretary of Defense, Gen. Lloyd Austin no doubt will be heavily relying again on the intelligence community as the Pentagon charts a course forward on Afghanistan. Published April 8, 2021
The Pentagon needs to become a smarter shopper
China and Russia are challenging America's high-tech dominance. The goal: not just to contest but to achieve superiority in every fighting domain, including air, land, space, sea and cyberspace. Published March 25, 2021
‘Recalibrate’ the Saudi relationship, but don’t wreck it
The Biden administration has announced the U.S. bilateral relationship with Saudi Arabia is undergoing a "recalibration." Published March 11, 2021
