Defense Priorities Defense Priorities
  • Policy Topics
    • Israel-Iran
    • Ukraine-Russia
    • NATO
    • China
    • Syria
  • Research
    • Briefs
    • Explainers
    • Reports
  • Programs
    • Grand Strategy Program
    • Military Analysis Program
    • Asia Program
    • Middle East Program
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Media
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • People
    • Jobs
    • Contact
  • Donate
Select Page
Home / Middle East / At Arlington, Trump returns to the politics of the ‘forever wars’
Middle East, Grand strategy

August 29, 2024

At Arlington, Trump returns to the politics of the ‘forever wars’

The role that the post-9/11 wars played in Mr. Trump’s rise cannot be overstated, said Dan Caldwell, a public policy adviser at Defense Priorities, a nonpartisan research group focused on what it calls realism and restraint in foreign policy. He pointed to a study by professors at the University of Minnesota and Boston University, which found that the counties in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that moved most from Barack Obama in 2012 to Mr. Trump in 2016 were disproportionately affected by military deployments, deaths and injuries.

“It is a critical part of the rise of Trump and Trumpism,” Mr. Caldwell said. “You cannot separate the rise of Trump from our failed wars after Sept. 11.”

Read at The New York Times

Featuring

Dan
Caldwell

Former Public Policy Advisor

Defense Priorities

More on Middle East

op-edIsrael‑Iran, Iran, Israel, Middle East

The real obstacle to peace with Iran

By Rosemary Kelanic and Jennifer Kavanagh

June 25, 2025

In the mediaIsrael‑Iran, Middle East

Is Iran really a threat to the United States? A debate

Featuring Rosemary Kelanic

June 25, 2025

op-edIsrael‑Iran, Iran, Israel, Middle East

How Trump took advantage of Iran’s face-saving retaliation strategy

By Daniel DePetris

June 24, 2025

In the mediaNATO, Alliances, Europe and Eurasia, Israel‑Iran, Middle East, Russia, Ukraine‑Russia

Trump heads overseas for NATO talks in wake of Iran strike and ceasefire negotiations

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh

June 24, 2025

In the mediaIsrael‑Iran, Iran, Israel, Middle East

As Israel and Iran weigh truce, U.S. troops in region remain on alert

Featuring Rosemary Kelanic

June 24, 2025

op-edIsrael‑Iran, Iran, Israel, Middle East

Why dreams of regime change in Iran will end in a rude awakening

By Rajan Menon

June 24, 2025

Events on Middle East

See All Events
virtualGreat power competition, Balance of power, China, Grand strategy, Middle East

Past Virtual Event: U.S.-China competition and the value of Middle East influence

June 10, 2025
virtualMiddle East, Basing and force posture, Diplomacy, Houthis, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Israel‑Hamas, Military analysis, Syria

Past Virtual Event: Trump in the Middle East: Impacts, implications, and alternatives

May 16, 2025
virtualSyria, Balance of power, Basing and force posture, Counterterrorism, Middle East, Military analysis

Past Virtual Event: Syria after Assad: Prospects for U.S. withdrawal

February 21, 2025

Receive expert foreign policy analysis

Join the hub of realism and restraint

Expert updates and analysis to enhance your understanding of vital U.S. national security issues

Defense Priority Mono Logo

Our mission is to inform citizens, thought leaders, and policymakers of the importance of a strong, dynamic military—used more judiciously to protect America’s narrowly defined national interests—and promote a realistic grand strategy prioritizing restraint, diplomacy, and free trade to ensure U.S. security.

  • About
  • For Media
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact
© 2025 Defense Priorities All Right Reserved