Daniel N. Hoffman
Columns by Daniel N. Hoffman
Time to put politics aside and treat fentanyl crisis as a clear and present danger
Alarm bells should be ringing in the Biden White House after the Drug Enforcement Administration seized 300,000 rainbow-colored fentanyl pills worth almost $10 million in a Bronx apartment building last month. Published November 3, 2022
From Putin’s dark past, lessons for addressing today’s crisis
In March 2018, it is useful now to remember, Russian GRU military intelligence operatives traveled to Salisbury, England, where they poisoned defector Sergei Skripal with the chemical nerve agent Novichok. Published October 20, 2022
Biden needs a ‘plan B’ when it comes to Iran
Iranian security forces in recent days have been arresting civilians chanting "Death to the dictator" as nationwide protests grip the country. Published October 6, 2022
Not done yet — Putin still dangerous as his Ukraine war goes south
Director CIA William Burns told a recent cyber security conference in Washington that it was "hard to see the record of the war -- Putin's record -- as anything other than a failure so far. Published September 22, 2022
A decade after Benghazi, honoring four American heroes who paid the ultimate price
This month, the CIA and State Department will honor and remember four American heroes who were killed during the firefight with terrorists at the U.S. diplomatic compound and CIA annex in Benghazi. Published September 8, 2022
China can’t be the CIA’s only focus in a world of threats
While elected officials often train their sights capriciously from one area of focus to another, the CIA must simultaneously and continuously track all threats across the globe. Published August 25, 2022
Al-Zawahiri’s death should be celebrated, but big questions remain
The successful counterterrorism strike that killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri removed from the battlefield a dangerous terrorist who declared war on the U.S. decades ago. Published August 11, 2022
Time for U.S. to end the ambiguity and guarantee Taiwan’s security
The goal for Washington and Taipei is to make Taiwan a hard target, one too costly in spilled blood and lost treasure for China to invade. Published July 28, 2022
Despite his delusions, Putin is no Peter the Great
For those who ever had the pleasure of serving in Moscow's "belly of the beast," there must have been little surprise when KGB officer Vladimir Putin emerged from the ash heap of the Soviet Evil Empire as President of Russia in 2000. Published July 14, 2022
Jack Barsky and the Fourth of July
"Jack Barsky" is not his real name. The real Jack Barsky died when he was ten years old. Jack Barsky was a cover legend, which the KGB created to send East German national Albrecht Dittrich to the United States in the late 1970's as a deep undercover spy. Published June 30, 2022
Wisdom from a dad on Father’s Day
Each and every Father's Day, especially since I became the father of two boys of my own, a flood of childhood memories of my late father rushes over me. Published June 16, 2022
Using anti-terror expertise to fight human trafficking in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin's barbaric war in Ukraine has spawned a humanitarian catastrophe. Published June 2, 2022
Memorial Day: A somber thanks to our fallen troops
There is no more sacred and somber day for the U.S. than Memorial Day when we commemorate the men and women who died in military service. Published May 26, 2022
U.S. intelligence failed Ukraine, and we need now to get it right
"The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride." Published May 19, 2022
Taliban-ruled Kabul, once again, a threat U.S. dare not ignore
While the world's attention has been justifiably focused on Russia's barbaric invasion of Ukraine, one big challenge for U.S. intelligence agencies is to not lose sight of the other wickedly complex threats all across the globe. Published May 5, 2022
Putin’s intel failed him; America must do better, for the sake of the world
Russia's barbaric war against Ukraine has been a colossal intelligence failure, which comes with more than a hint of irony since President Vladimir Putin famously served in the KGB. Published April 21, 2022
Putin’s Ukraine invasion ends the post-Cold War era
Russia's brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has for all practical purposes terminated the post-Cold War period. Published April 7, 2022
Journalists soldier on in the face of Putin’s brutal war on truth
Last week, Russian state TV Channel One editor Maria Ovsyannikova bravely protested President Vladimir Putin's barbaric war against Ukraine. Published March 24, 2022
A profile in courage: Zelenskyy is an inspirational hero to democracies everywhere
Throughout my career at CIA, I was regularly struck by the extent to which our policymakers relied on analytical profiles of foreign leaders, especially during times of crisis. Published March 10, 2022
Long live Estonia: America must ensure defense of our most vulnerable NATO members
With Russia having begun an all-out invasion of Ukraine on Wednesday night, the U.S.-led NATO alliance should reflect on the significance of Estonia's independence day, Feb. 24. Published February 24, 2022
