Defense Priorities Defense Priorities
  • Policy Topics
    • Ukraine-Russia
    • Israel-Hamas
    • NATO
    • China
    • Syria
    • North Korea
  • 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 / Drone attack complicates US effort to contain Middle East conflict
Middle East, Grand strategy, Iran

January 29, 2024

Drone attack complicates US effort to contain Middle East conflict

“Whether or not it’s a good idea, Biden will have, at minimum, to take steps along those lines,” argues Rajan Menon, director of the Grand Strategy program at the Defense Priorities think tank. “Especially because this is an election year and the GOP, and above all [former President Donald] Trump, will flay him for being weak.”

Among other pluses from Tehran’s perspective, they “align with its goal of raising the risks associated with an open-ended deployment of U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq,” Mr. Menon says.

Read at Christian Science Monitor

Featuring

Photo of Rajan Menon

Rajan
Menon

Former Non-Resident Senior Fellow

Defense Priorities

More on Middle East

op-edMiddle East, Iran, Israel‑Hamas, Yemen

Trump needs to stop involving himself in Middle East drama

By Christopher McCallion

May 29, 2025

op-edGrand strategy, Iran, Israel, Israel‑Hamas, Middle East

Donald Trump’s New Middle East Doctrine

By Alexander Langlois

May 26, 2025

op-edSyria, Middle East

Now is the time for the US to get its troops out of Syria

By Adam Gallagher

May 22, 2025

op-edIran, Middle East, Nuclear weapons

Are US-Iran Nuclear Talks at a Dead-End?

By Daniel DePetris

May 21, 2025

op-edGrand strategy, Israel, Israel‑Hamas, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine‑Russia

Donald Trump is getting a reality check on his peace plans for Gaza and Ukraine

By Daniel DePetris

May 20, 2025

In the mediaMiddle East, NATO

NATO Has an Authoritarian Dilemma as Turkey Turns Inward and the West Turns a Blind Eye

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh

May 18, 2025

Events on Middle East

See All Events
virtualChina, Alliances, Balance of power, Diplomacy, Grand strategy, Great power competition, Middle East

Virtual: 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