Daniel N. Hoffman
Columns by Daniel N. Hoffman
Learning from the espionage malpractice behind the Steele dossier
Former British MI6 agent Christopher Steele's modus operandi was so fraught with horrific misjudgments that it should have rendered all of his reporting unworthy of being included in any analytical product. Published February 25, 2021
Vladimir Putin faces serious threat from social media master Alexei Navalny
Having served in the KGB and as director of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), President Vladimir Putin is well versed in cloak-and-dagger espionage. Published February 11, 2021
U.S. Capitol riots: Learning lessons from intelligence failures
The deadly Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol was just such a catastrophic intelligence failure, most especially in the analytical and decision-making stages. Published January 28, 2021
Kim Jong-un’s threat to bring U.S. ‘to its knees’ heightens Biden’s challenges
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un resurfaced last week at the eighth Congress of his ruling Workers' Party, where he admitted "almost all sectors" of his country's economy had fallen short of their goals. Published January 14, 2021
Lessons to be learned from Eric Swalwell’s brush with Chinese espionage
Eric Swalwell was reportedly "shocked" when the FBI informed him in 2015 that Christine Fang, a Chinese national who first met him in 2012, was a suspected spy. Published December 31, 2020
Russian cyber attack underscores need for elected officials to unite against Kremlin
The purpose of intelligence is to detect threats "left of boom" so they can be preempted before they are visited on our shores. Published December 24, 2020
Not so fast on rejoining a badly flawed Iran deal, Mr. Biden
President-elect Joe Biden's stated aim to embrace the 2015 Iran nuclear deal as long as Tehran also returns to compliance is causing well-justified apprehension. Published December 17, 2020
Americans can trust intelligence pros to support peaceful transfer of government power
Our nation greatly benefits from having a cadre of professionals who do not turn over each time there is a new party in charge of the executive branch. Published December 3, 2020
Dealing with terrorism threat will dominate new administration’s agenda
The threat of terrorism that is arguably the national security threat with the shortest fuse. Published November 19, 2020
Don’t sell short Trump breakthrough in Middle East
Let's not forget that just a couple of months ago the Trump administration brokered an unexpected and remarkable diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East. Published November 5, 2020
Thoughts on swimming, cancer and the power of love
Kaitlin Sandeno and I share a mutual understanding and appreciation of what it means to care for a family member undergoing arduous treatment for cancer. Published October 22, 2020
Beware of hostile regimes weaponizing Trump’s COVID-19 battle
The Trump administration should be as transparent as possible about the president's illness and recuperation to avoid creating vulnerable attack space for foreign adversaries to sow confusion. Published October 15, 2020
Don’t believe Putin’s lies in Navalny poisoning
Last month, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was discharged from the Berlin hospital where he was treated for 32 days after being poisoned with the Soviet military-grade nerve agent Novichok while on a trip to Russia's Far East. Published October 8, 2020
Hyper-partisan politics leaves America vulnerable to Russia and adversaries
Our hyperpartisan politics creates openings for attack and division, which our adversaries -- Russia in particular -- ruthlessly exploit. Published September 24, 2020
Saudi’s detention of innocent son and daughter of Saad al Jabri is a gross human rights violation
U.S. lawmakers express grave concern that Omar and Sarah al Jabri were being held against their will to compel their father's return from Canada to Riyadh to face charges of corruption. Published September 10, 2020
Trump’s diplomatic triumph with Israel-UAE agreement applies ‘maximum pressure’ against Iran
Earlier this month Israel and the United Arab Emirates announced they will normalize diplomatic ties and build a new bilateral relationship, a breakthrough which has the potential to recast the balance of power in the Middle East. Published August 27, 2020
China’s Trojan horse real estate acquisition threatens America’s power grid
China has made the control over foreign real estate a central tool in its increasingly aggressive and diverse arsenal. Published August 13, 2020
Christopher Steele’s failings go far beyond dodgy Trump ‘dossier’
Christopher Steele would best serve his own interests -- and the national security of both the U.K. and U.S. -- with a mea culpa admitting his errors of judgment and laying out the multitude of lessons we should learn from his shoddy work product. Published July 30, 2020
Is Russia paying the Taliban bounties to kill U.S. troops?
A Taliban bounty plot would be completely consistent with Mr. Putin's cloak-and-dagger approach to tactics and strategy. Published July 16, 2020
Gina Haspel and CIA stream recruitment efforts
Last month, for the first time ever, the CIA began airing recruitment videos on entertainment, news and lifestyle streaming services. And the clandestine life appears to have its attractions. Published July 2, 2020
