Category Archives: Feature Articles

Generation Jihad | SATC: Sharaa and the City

| September 24, 2025

Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa is in New York City this week, headlining the UN General Assembly (UNGA), fraternizing with world leaders, and meeting with senior Trump administration officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He was even hosted by a prominent think tank for a fireside chat with General David Petraeus, a self-described “fan.” Why is everyone so eager to embrace someone with a record of terror? Tom Joscelyn is back with Bill Roggio to unpack Washington’s stunning, but not surprising, amnesia.

Generation Jihad | Back to Bagram?

| September 23, 2025

Four years after America’s chaotic retreat from Afghanistan, President Trump has said he wants US forces back at Bagram Air Base — or as Bill Roggio and Tom Joscelyn call it: a fantasy. They explain why the Taliban will never allow it, China wouldn’t tolerate it, and that Washington still hasn’t learned. From Doha to Abbey Gate, Bill and Tom retrace how America’s exit empowered jihadists—and why talk of going back is pure madness.

Generation Jihad | Loose ceasefires sink ships

| July 12, 2025

The Houthis are back at it—sinking ships, killing civilians, and holding crews hostage in the Red Sea. Bill is joined by his FDD colleagues Bridget Toomey and Bradley Bowman to unpack the details and discuss why Iran-backed proxies keep getting away with it—including how the U.S. “ceasefire” deal may have emboldened them. Also: Where’s Europe? And why does everyone seem more afraid of offending Tehran than protecting global shipping and freedom of navigation?

Generation Jihad | Does helping Ukraine help us?

| July 12, 2025

Does arming Ukraine come at the expense of our military readiness—or is it an investment in it?

Bill asks his FDD colleague and military expert Bradley Bowman to set the record straight on what it really takes for the US to defeat its enemies in the long war — and why deterring China, Russia, and Iran simultaneously is essential for American national security.

From munitions math and Pentagon priorities to strained stockpiles, weapons we’re sending, and weapons we’re not making fast enough, Brad covers the bases to illustrate why helping our democratic partners do damage to our enemies now is an investment in saving American lives later.

Generation Jihad | A word with the last Afghan general

| July 6, 2025

Nearly four years after Kabul fell, the Taliban remain entrenched—and the resistance is fragmented, under-resourced, and increasingly demoralized. General Hibatullah Alizai, the last Chief of General Staff of the Afghan army, joins Bill Roggio and Will Selber to discuss the anti-Taliban fight, internal Taliban rifts, and why the US and its allies risk repeating their worst mistakes.

Generation Jihad | From al Qaeda to the Abraham Accords?

| July 1, 2025

From Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria to whispers of folding Damascus into the Abraham Accords, Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al Sharaa—an ex–al Qaeda commander—now finds himself near the center of America’s diplomatic efforts in the region. Can a former jihadi become a US-backed peace partner? Are we seriously having this conversation again? Yes, and joining Bill to have it are his FDD colleagues David Daoud and Ahmad Sharawi.

Generation Jihad | Damage Assessment: Iran’s Nuclear Program (featuring Andrea Stricker)

| June 28, 2025

The US and Israel just hit Iran’s nuclear program hard — but how much damage did they really do? Bill is joined by his FDD colleague and nuclear expert Andrea Stricker to discuss what was destroyed, what might have survived, whether Tehran’s nuclear program is dead or just delayed — as well as the intelligence, the spin, and why the Mossad and IAEA may hold the real answers.

Generation Jihad | A new chapter in Israel’s long war

| June 13, 2025

Israel has launched a massive, coordinated strike campaign against Iran—targeting nuclear facilities, ballistic missile infrastructure, and senior regime officials. The entire Generation Jihad team convenes to break down what’s been hit, who’s been killed, why Israel chose this moment to act, and how one thing is clear: the long shadow war between Israel and Iran has just gone overt—and it may only be the beginning.

Generation Jihad | I just ran. Iran so far away.

| June 1, 2025

Bill and Behnam discuss the evolving dynamics of U.S. foreign policy on Iran and the subsequent need for coherent policy that addresses multifaceted issues including nuclear negotiations, Iranian protests against the regime, the ongoing threat posed by Iran’s proxy strategy — particularly from the Houthis, shifting attitudes of Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the potential impact on U.S.-Israel relations.

Generation Jihad | Terror in Washington, D.C.

| May 25, 2025

Behnam and David D. join Bill to discuss the attack in Washington, D.C. that killed a young couple working for the Israeli embassy. Behnam and David both were friends with Yaron, who tragically lost his life to yet another act of terror rooted in anti-semitism. They also briefly catch up on the current state of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations and the still-burning dumpster fire in Lebanon.

Generation Jihad | Trump’s Iran Gambit

| April 18, 2025

Bill, Behnam, and Janatan dive into the high-stakes complexities of U.S.-Iran relations, unpacking President Trump’s dual-track approach of military readiness and diplomatic outreach to the Islamic Republic. They discuss Iran’s internal reactions to U.S. policy shifts, Saudi Arabia’s cautious recalibration toward Tehran, and intensifying military pressure on the Houthis.

Generation Jihad | Problems without peaceful solutions

| April 8, 2025

Bill, David, and Joe break down the latest flashpoints across Lebanon, Israel, and Gaza—examining the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon, Israel’s evolving military operations and campaigns against Hezbollah and Hamas, the Lebanese government’s stalled efforts to disarm Hezbollah, and the growing discontent in Gaza as protests against Hamas intensify.

Looking at the Sunni side of the aisle

| April 7, 2025

Bill and Caleb discuss updates from “the Sunni side of the aisle,” including Washington’s policy pivot on the Haqqani Network, the U.S. military’s airstrike strategy in Somalia, the Turkestan Islamic Party’s rebranding attempt, the recent death of a key Islamic State leader, and Shabaab’s current operations.

Conflict in Syria Continues

| March 14, 2025

Ahmad Sharawi joins Bill for an update on Syria’s ongoing conflict, including: the recent Alawite insurgency against the government led by Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, the role of jihadist groups and involvement of the Syrian National Army and Syrian Democratic Forces, Israel’s position on minority protection in Syria, and the feasibility of military action in the region.

On Iran’s Military Threat with Janatan Sayeh

| February 28, 2025

Bill is joined by his FDD colleague and Long War Journal contributor Janatan Sayeh to unpack Iran’s various spheres of influence and threats posed not least of all by their military capabilities from drone technology and nuclear enrichment to increasingly close cooperation with Moscow and Beijing.

Status update on global jihad

| February 14, 2025

Bill is joined by Caleb Weiss and Edmund Fitton-Brown to discuss the latest UN Sanctions Monitoring Team report on the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda that was released this week.

Generation Jihad Ep. 231 — The next Trump administration and Iran

| November 8, 2024

Bill and Benham unpack the dynamic landscape of American foreign policy towards Iran, specifically how the region’s latest turmoil might challenge the incoming Trump administration. They also discuss the challenges of domestic politics muddying foreign policy decisions, the future of American military presence in Iraq and Syria, and the need for a coherent strategy to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Generation Jihad Ep. 230 — Trump 2.0 and foreign policy

| November 6, 2024

Bill and Will unpack the implications of Trump’s win on the foreign and national security policies, particularly as they related to Ukraine, Israel, and Iran. They also analyze the second Trump administration’s potential strategies for addressing burden sharing amongst NATO members, the ongoing jihadist threat, and the challenges posed by China and North Korea.