Forward from The Honorary Chair
“Two years ago, I was leaving a successful meeting with a key Arab leader discussing the next stage of peace and prosperity in the Middle East when I first heard the initial reports of the attack. As the world learned of the atrocities committed by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists, that vision for a brighter future seemed to slip further away. October 7th was not just an attack on Israel, but an attack on the free society which radical jihadists seek to destroy. We cannot forget about the American victims of this tragedy, and the hostages — alive and dead —which remain in Gaza. For several American families, who still await reunification with their loved ones held by Hamas, the pain of October 7th has continued without relief. As we face the solemn two year anniversary of this tragedy, we must seek a new path forward to ensure that October 7th never happens again and that Hamas and Iran do not achieve their goal of derailing the vision of peace and prosperity that was near fruition before this brutal attack.”
— U.S. Senator Joni K. Ernst
Analysis from the Board
“Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. Though rudimentary, it was a coordinated strike by air, land, and sea—and devastatingly effective. Over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were murdered, and some 250 hostages were taken. For two years, Israel’s resolve to root out Hamas has fueled a global debate: what actions are justified in destroying a terror group while negotiating for the release of remaining hostages or their remains? The world remains divided, but Israel’s mission is clear—Hamas cannot be allowed to survive as a governing or military force. As Prime Minister Netanyahu stated to the United Nations on the eve of the two year anniversary, the attack on Israel is no different from the 9/11 attack on America by terrorists.
President Trump and key Congressional Republican leaders, such as Senator Joni Ernst, remain steadfast in support of Israel. The foreign policy implications are direct: America must assist our closest ally in the region with its deterrence posture and operational resilience. Every conflict reveals new dynamics in modern warfare. Just as Ukraine has demonstrated the power of drones against a larger adversary, the Hamas attack reminds us that asymmetric threats require constant adaptation. U.S. policy has evolved accordingly—providing advanced munitions, missile defense, and expanded intelligence-sharing with Israel.
Hamas’s attack, coupled with sustained Iranian support, forced a recalibration of U.S. counterterrorism priorities in the Middle East as well. Future governance of Gaza must exclude terror networks entirely if stability is ever to be achieved. That requires resolve, not hesitation. If America falters in its support, Iranian proxies across the region will be emboldened to escalate further.
President Trump and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, represent the right leadership at the right moment in history. They recognize both the risks that follow October 7 and the consequences of weak foreign policy. Their approach—eschewing U.S. ground forces while providing Israel strong military backing and the credibility of immediate, lethal response when necessary—is precisely the strategy the Biden administration failed to deliver. America cannot afford that weakness again.”
— Bastion Institute Board Member, Colonel David Trotter (Retired)
“October 7 was a truly seismic event in the Middle East. In its wake, Israel went to war and shifted the balance of power in the region decisively. Hamas has been decimated, Hezbollah is a shell of its former self, and Iran’s ballistic missiles and air defenses have been reduced and destroyed, respectively.
Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, Mohammed Deif, Nassan Nasrallah, and Fuad Shukr: these were the masterminds known around the world for plotting aggression against Israel. Today, they are all dead along with their IRGC companions. Israel’s skill and daring — recall the pager attack in Lebanon, the Haniyeh assassination in Tehran, and the Nasrallah bombing in Beirut, for example — will go down in history. The resulting weakness of Iran and Hezbollah, key backers of Bashar Assad in Syria, contributed to regime change in Damascus.
October 7 set in motion events that culminated in Israel’s 12-day war on Iran. This was the first time that Israel openly attacked Iran, and it was the first time in history that Washington and Jerusalem went to war together against an adversary. Israel did the heavy lifting up front to weaken anti-American forces. The Trump administration recognized the opportunity that Israel’s leadership presented and backed it through Operation Midnight Hammer. This foreign policy template, which we could dub the new Trump doctrine, may just become the president’s preferred approach for alliance management globally.”
— Bastion Institute Board Member, Peter Rough