• Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock
Editor's Pick

Bush’s War on Terror vs Trump’s Iran approach: How US Middle East strategy evolved

by June 23, 2025
written by June 23, 2025

The War on Terror led to regime change in Iraq and a briefly democratic Afghanistan — at least until former President Joe Biden’s disastrous withdrawal. More recently, a separate conflict between Israel and Iran saw the U.S. step in to help destroy nuclear facilities — but observers should pause before making any apples-to-apples comparisons between the two eras.

The image of then-White House chief of staff Andrew Card whispering in President George W. Bush’s ear during an elementary school reading event that the Twin Towers had been hit by terrorists began a continuing three decades of U.S. involvement in the Middle East.

The Middle East and the world writ-large was a different place back then, Heritage Foundation senior China and National Security Policy studies fellow Steve Yates told Fox News Digital.

Yates previously served in the Bush administration as a top national security affairs adviser to then-Vice President Dick Cheney. More recently, he co-chaired the 2016 RNC’s platform subcommittee on national security.

‘The world has changed an awful lot in 20 years,’ Yates said, when asked to compare the two administrations.

‘And I think that my perceptions of things have changed a great deal, in no small part, because I’ve had as a primary focus, among all other things in the world, what’s happening with China.’

During the Bush years, the Chinese Communist Party was led by Hu Jintao, who Yates quipped was the ‘definition of boredom’ compared to the feistier Xi Jinping.

The differences there and in the Mideast have presented challenges to the U.S., Yates said.

President Donald Trump leads essentially the first ‘post-globalist’ presidency as the world ‘awaken[ed] from’ its ‘globalist moment’ since the 1990s.

‘None of those things were factors in the early 2000s. And I think that context is vital to try to see how things are handled now,’ he said.

‘Frankly, I am a supporter of President Trump and what he’s been trying to do. I think he’s very clear that he’s willing to use decisive force when he judges it to be necessary.’

In the Middle East, American intervention during the War on Terror led to dictator Saddam Hussein being deposed, and a decades-long ground war ensued.

Iran, at the time, was led by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — a more prominent president. Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei has become the more prominent global figure as of late, over current President Masoud Pezeshkian.

And, while the War on Terror led to boots on the ground, Yates noted Trump has been clear that he wants Mideast allies and their Western-friendly neighbors to carry their ‘fair share’ of risk and responsibility for what happens in the region — which has been marked by conflicts since the time of Jesus Christ.

‘In that, Israel has been very clear. They haven’t asked for American boots on the ground. To my knowledge to this point they haven’t asked for much of anything other than rhetorical support,’ he said, prior to the U.S. dropping MOP bombs from B-2s on Saturday night.

Yates foreshadowed that Trump has made clear he is ready to use ‘decisive American force’ if necessary to prevent Iranian nuclear proliferation.

‘That is a definable objective… That is not a war of occupation or trying to ‘remake Iran in our image’ as some [have] characterized Iraq, whether fairly or unfairly.’

‘So I think that the president has navigated this with deeper logic than most people give credit.’

The question at this time in history is more whether ‘the Old World’ will act on their shared interest in supporting a non-nuclear Iran or similar outcome in a meaningful way.

He referenced the ‘EU-3’ — Germany, Great Britain and France, the three largest European economic powers — and said they had previously been a ‘moderating force’ in negotiations that allowed Tehran to ‘mitigate sanctions’ and go back on promises made.

But the EU-3’s model failed to solve the problem, revealing that the early 21st century style of diplomacy — which often pulled the U.S. into conflicts — may no longer be effective. Israel’s decisive response to October 7 only underscored that point.

‘I still have a lot of gratitude and respect for my colleagues back in the Bush administration. I just see us as a world in a fundamentally different place,’ he said.

‘And I would give President Trump pretty high marks on how he’s balanced equities — keeping true to his definition of what America First means, but also true to standing by allies in times of need.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
Exiled prince looks to lead Iranian people in ending Islamic Republic: ‘Our Berlin Wall moment’
next post
Apple sued by shareholders who allege it overstated AI progress

related articles

Trump slams Democrats for ‘shutting down’ government, demands...

October 7, 2025

Hawley rips Jack Smith’s ‘Biden’s Stasi’ probe, calls...

October 7, 2025

Kennedy claims Democrats want millions for foreign LGBT...

October 6, 2025

Schumer’s shutdown holds as Senate Dems block GOP...

October 6, 2025

Pope’s top diplomat blasts Israel’s Gaza offensive as...

October 6, 2025

Schumer’s shutdown scheme explained: Dems double down on...

October 6, 2025

Mike Johnson fires back at Hakeem Jeffries’ ‘desperate’...

October 6, 2025

Trump flips his shutdown approach, leaving Congress to...

October 6, 2025

More lawmakers say they’re rejecting paychecks as government...

October 6, 2025

Self-described ‘unapologetic supporter of Israel’ John Fetterman weighs...

October 6, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News, And Articles.


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Latest News

  • Ex-Pentagon aide urges Trump to fire Hegseth, citing ‘full-blown meltdown’ and ‘total chaos’

    April 21, 2025
  • ‘Swindled the American taxpayer’: New House GOP internal memo rips Dem USAID uproar

    February 5, 2025
  • Kraft Heinz to split into two companies

    September 2, 2025
  • Former Clinton aide Huma Abedin, Alex Soros marry in swank Hamptons wedding packed with Dem heavyweights

    June 15, 2025
  • Children take over White House briefing room with questions about Trump’s favorite ice cream, superpower

    May 20, 2025

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Secret Service admits leaning on ‘state and local partners’ after claim it ignored Trump team’s past requests

    July 21, 2024
  • 2

    Five more House Democrats call on Biden to drop out, third US senator

    July 19, 2024
  • 3

    Forex Profit Calculator: Maximize Your Trading Potential

    July 10, 2024
  • 4

    Elon and Vivek should tackle US funding for this boondoogle organization and score a multimillion dollar win

    December 4, 2024
  • 5

    Biden calls to ‘lower the temperature’ then bashes Trump in NAACP speech

    July 17, 2024

Categories

  • Economy (829)
  • Editor's Pick (6,277)
  • Investing (634)
  • Stock (935)

Latest Posts

  • KJP denies that Kamala Harris has had trouble distinguishing herself from Biden: ‘I’ve not seen that’

    October 22, 2024
  • Trump picks Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as nation’s next surgeon general

    November 23, 2024
  • Stellar and Bitcoin Cash: Stellar launches a bullish option

    August 20, 2024

Recent Posts

  • ‘All-in’: GOP lawmakers divided on US involvement as Trump pushes Iran for diplomatic end

    June 14, 2025
  • Wall Street expects Trump presidency will unlock deal-making

    November 8, 2024
  • Bolton unleashes on Trump Ukraine policy days after FBI raid

    August 25, 2025

Editor’s Pick

  • Intel CEO retires as chipmaker loses ground in AI revolution

    December 3, 2024
  • After second meeting with Hegseth, Ernst hints at whether she will or won’t support confirmation

    December 10, 2024
  • Israeli official vows ‘We have more surprises coming up’ for Iran following wave of airstrikes

    June 14, 2025
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer: moneyrisetoday.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

Copyright © 2025 moneyrisetoday.com | All Rights Reserved

Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock