Daniel N. Hoffman

With U.S. gone, terrorist groups thrive again in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

Last month, the U.S. Central Command said it conducted 20 joint operations in Iraq and 11 in Syria, killing five Islamic State operatives and capturing 30 fighters.

August 24, 2023

The critical work of CIA Director William Burns

CIA Director William Burns' high-value counsel to the president and his team, especially Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, is critical for making informed foreign policy decisions.

August 10, 2023

In intelligence, allies like Ukraine are the ultimate force multiplier

During my last overseas CIA assignment as a station chief in a South Asian war zone, we worked in close partnership with our colleagues in the intelligence community, State Department and U.S. military.

July 27, 2023

How Ukraine’s campaign to defend Bakhmut weakened Putin

In May 2022, the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut found itself on the front lines of Russia's war of aggression, the unlikely focus of a ferocious offensive by Kremlin forces.

July 13, 2023

CIA officer Ric Prado’s stellar career still inspires agents today

One of the great regrets of my decadeslong CIA career is that I never had the honor of serving under the legendary CIA senior clandestine services officer Ric Prado.

June 29, 2023

Willful blindness doomed Putin’s disastrous Ukraine war from the start

Mr. Putin's only success -- amid his colossal failure to prepare his own military force for war -- has been to induce a measure of "escalation paralysis" from the Biden administration.

June 22, 2023

President Kennedy’s call, ‘let them come to Berlin,’ still has lessons to teach 60 years later

It was 60 years ago this month that President John F. Kennedy delivered his impassioned speech in defense of liberty, freedom and self-government to 1 million citizens in the then-democratic enclave of West Berlin.

June 5, 2023

Stars on the wall at CIA headquarters tell Memorial Day tale

The CIA's Memorial Wall is in the lobby of the Original Headquarters Building.

May 25, 2023

As autocrats attack journalists, the world must stand in defense of a free press

In 2018, my late wife, Kim, and I attended the White House Correspondents' Association dinner for the first time.

May 11, 2023

Why I didn’t sign the Hunter Biden laptop letter

I was one of the retired senior officials who received an email from former acting CIA Director Michael Morell asking us to sign the now-infamous Hunter Biden laptop letter.

April 27, 2023

Thoughts on Pentagon’s national security leak and what comes next

There is a lot we're still learning about the Pentagon intelligence document leak, but this much we do know: The Biden administration is confronting a significant counterintelligence flap.

April 20, 2023

With a serving of ‘sisu,’ Finland add weight to NATO’s clash with Russia

A few decades back, I had the honor of joining friends from the Helsinki Rotary Club to bring some good cheer to Finnish war veterans during the holiday season.

April 13, 2023

Yes, there’s a new Cold War — and China started it

It's time to harness the power of that bipartisan consensus against China, or our national security will suffer the gravest of consequences.

March 30, 2023

After long intelligence career, Patricia Moynihan still putting out fires

Emergency medical technicians are almost always the first to arrive and provide lifesaving medical care for the critically injured.

March 16, 2023

Good policies, good allies needed to confront China

In the aftermath of the shootdown of the Chinese spy balloon, U.S. relations with Beijing are at their worst since President Richard Nixon opened up to China 50 years ago.

March 2, 2023

Ukraine debacle leaves Russia facing future as China’s vassal

One year into the most devastating war in Europe since World War II, China is ruthlessly focused on taking maximum advantage of a weakened Russia and an isolated Vladimir Putin.

February 16, 2023

In troubled times, Biden’s speech should embrace peace through strength

Two hundred and thirty years ago, President Washington used the very first State of the Union address at Congress Hall in Philadelphia to outline the doctrine of peace through strength.

February 2, 2023

What the Ana Montes espionage case can teach us

Former Defense Intelligence Agency analyst Ana Montes, who was convicted of spying for Cuba in 2002, was released from a Texas federal prison earlier this month.

January 19, 2023

At the CIA, foundation helps the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice

On Memorial Day, the CIA holds a ceremony to honor the courageous agency officers who gave their lives in service to their country.

January 5, 2023

Team Biden needs to publicly defend democracy against brittle dictators in Iran and China

Sparked by the arrest and death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, a wave of popular protest, strikes and civil unrest against Iran's dictatorship has spread throughout the country.

December 22, 2022