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Bill Gertz

Bill Gertz

bgertz@washingtontimes.com

Bill Gertz is a national security correspondent for The Washington Times. He has been with The Times since 1985.
He is the author of eight books, four of them national best-sellers. His latest book, "Deceiving the Sky: Inside Communist China's Drive for Global Supremacy," reveals details about the growing threat posed by the People's Republic of China. He is also the author of the ebook "How China's Communist Party Made the World Sick."
Mr. Gertz also writes Inside the Ring, a weekly column that chronicles the U.S. national security bureaucracy.
Mr. Gertz has been a guest lecturer at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.; the Central Intelligence Agency in Virginia; the National Defense University at Fort McNair in Washington; and the Brookings Institution in Washington. He has participated in the National Security Studies Program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
He studied English literature at Washington College in Chestertown, Md., and journalism at George Washington University. He is married and has two daughters.
He can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Bill Gertz

A video posting shows Syrian SA-11 missiles being deployed at the Al Massah Military Airport in Damascus. Officials say the base is a major target of U.S. strikes because it was used to fire chemical weapons during the Aug. 21 attack. (Youtube.com)

Inside the Ring: Russia reset paused

President Obama will not hold a formal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during this week's G-20 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.

September 4, 2013
Gen. Herbert J. Carlisle, commander of the Pacific Air Forces, has made remarks about U.S. military deployments that China sees as having a "strong Cold War flavor," Beijing's euphemism for anti-communism. (Associated Press)

Inside the Ring: Air Force on China threat

Air Force Gen. Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of the Pacific Air Forces, recently outlined his service's role in the Pentagon shift to Asia, known as both the "pivot" and Air Sea Battle, a concept to counter China's high-tech weapons.

August 28, 2013
Analysts point to the release of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as a significant sign that the military is preparing for long-term authoritarian rule. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Inside the Ring: Returning to military rule

U.S. intelligence agencies watching events in Egypt say the military is preparing for long-term authoritarian rule, a setback for both pro-democracy advocates and proponents of Islamist rule under the ousted Muslim Brotherhood regime.

August 21, 2013

Inside the Ring: Army officer calls for purge

An active duty Army officer is urging a thorough house cleaning of Army generals and a restructuring of the service after more than a decade of leadership failures.

August 14, 2013
Adm. Cecil E.D. Haney. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

Inside the Ring: Russia boosts Cuba ties

The Russian military recently dispatched a guided-missile warship to Cuba as part of what U.S. officials say are growing military, intelligence and economic ties between Moscow and Havana.

July 31, 2013
"Too often, this president acts as if he is above the law. He ignores the law when it comes to his health care law; he ignores the enforcement of immigration laws; and now he is applying this approach to defense policy." — Rep. Mike Rogers, Alabama Republican and chairman of the House Armed Services subcommittee on strategic forces

Inside the Ring: Bill blocks nuclear cuts

The House approved an amendment to the fiscal 2014 defense appropriations bill this week that would block the Obama administration's plan to cut U.S. nuclear forces under the 2010 U.S.-Russia New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

July 24, 2013
USNS Impeccable, an intelligence-gathering ship, was harassed by a Chinese security ship last month in an incident that analysts say indicates Beijing is stepping up aggressive maritime encounters toward the U.S. Navy. (U.S. Navy)

Inside the Ring: New naval harassment in Asia

A U.S. intelligence-gathering ship was harassed by a Chinese security ship last month in an incident that analysts say indicates Beijing is stepping up aggressive maritime encounters toward the U.S. Navy in the Asia-Pacific.

July 17, 2013
Edward Snowden

Inside the Ring: More NSA leaks

U.S. intelligence officials are braced for more disclosures of National Security Agency eavesdropping secrets from renegade contractor Edward Snowden, who is seeking asylum in Venezuela.

July 10, 2013
A Russian booster rocket carrying three satellites crashed in Kazakhstan on Tuesday following an emergency shutdown of the engines after launch. (Vesti 24 via Associated Press)

Inside the Ring: Russian intel and Edward Snowden

Russia's SVR intelligence service, successor to the KGB, is behind a coordinated Moscow campaign to exploit the case of former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden by fueling anti-U.S. sentiment in Russia, according to U.S. officials.

July 3, 2013
A U.N. committee in charge of monitoring arms sanctions on North Korea concludes that China provided off-road vehicles — "lumber transporters" — that were converted into long-range missile launchers by the North Korean military.

Inside the Ring: China breaks sanctions

The U.N. committee in charge of monitoring arms sanctions on North Korea concludes in a report that China provided six off-road vehicles that were converted into long-range missile launchers by Pyongyang's military.

June 26, 2013
"We do have significant concerns [about contractors], and it is something that we need to look at," says NSA Director Gen. Keith B. Alexander, on the leaks of top-secret information. (Associated Press)

Inside the Ring: NSA contractor threat

National Security Agency Director Gen. Keith B. Alexander this week revealed new details about the electronic spying agency's use of private contractors like renegade NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

June 19, 2013
President Barack Obama, right, walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands on Saturday, June 8, 2013, in Rancho Mirage, Calif. While saying it is critical that the U.S. and China reach a "firm understanding" on cyber issues, Obama told reporters his meetings with Xi have been "terrific." (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Inside the Ring: Summit shortcomings

Last weekend's summit between President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping fell short on three key outcomes, according to U.S. officials familiar with organizational efforts behind the meeting.

June 12, 2013
Xi Jinping

Inside the Ring: U.S.-Japan Dawn Blitz

The United States and Japan appear set to send a political signal of military solidarity to China, just as Beijing has in the past signaled Washington about its military buildup.

June 5, 2013
** FILE ** The supersecret National Security Agency, based at Fort Meade, Md., has declassified some details about its history. (Associated Press)

Inside the Ring: NSA under Reagan

The National Security Agency, the electronic spy and code-breaking service whose name frequently is mentioned with the words "super-secret," recently declassified details of its history.

May 22, 2013
China's combat drone is described as "a stark example of China's broad investment in advanced military technologies."

Inside the Ring: Al Qaeda websites hacked

Three of al Qaeda's major websites for recruiting terrorists and communicating propaganda were shut down recently in an apparent case of counterterrorism hacking or possibly as a result of internal disputes among terrorists.

May 15, 2013
One of China's biggest banks on Tuesday said it has halted business with the Foreign Trade Bank of North Korea, accused by the U.S. of financing Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programs, in a recent sign of Beijing pressuring its ally. (Associated Press)

Inside the Ring: China reins in North Korea

Clear signs are emerging for the first time indicating that China is responding to U.S. pressure to help modify belligerent behavior by Beijing's fraternal communist ally in North Korea.

May 8, 2013
During the Soviet era, Russia was the first to deploy a rail-mobile nuclear missile system known as the SS-24. Moscow announced plans to deploy the first of its new intercontinental ballistic missiles called the Yars-M later this year.

Inside the Ring: Russia builds up, U.S. down

As the Obama administration prepares to launch a new round of strategic nuclear missile cuts, Russia's strategic nuclear forces are undergoing a major modernization, according to U.S. officials.

May 1, 2013
Some intelligence officials fear that Kim Jong-Un may take a page from his grandfather, Kim Il-sung, who launched the Korean War in part because he feared losing power. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

Inside the Ring: North Korea war strategy

U.S. intelligence officials assessing North Korea's recent bellicose statements are increasingly concerned that Kim Jong-un could use his limited nuclear arsenal as part of offensive military attack that would be calculated to improve the prospects for reunifying the country rather suffering a collapse of his regime.

April 17, 2013
Associated press

Inside the Ring: Transcom or emocom?

The Air Force more than other military services has jumped enthusiastically on the Obama administration's campaign to socially engineer the military through politically correct programs and policies.

April 10, 2013