FDD is a Washington, DC-based nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.
FDD does not accept donations from any foreign governments.
Subscribe to FDD
Receive FDD's latest research and analysis
Trending Issues
Iran-backed Terrorism
Grey zone is the new black
Too many smart people don’t grasp that a war is being waged against us
The Washington Times
‘Nightmare’ in Venezuela: Maduro’s alliance with Hezbollah raises specter of terror threat, analysts say
Washington Examiner
Military and Political Power
Afghan officials claim civilians killed in US airstrike targeting Taliban splinter group
Washington Examiner
The Turkish-Qatari Axis Challenges Washington
Turkey and Qatar have become brothers in arms, pursuing joint ventures in illicit finance and promoting extremist ideologies. Washington needs to develop a multipronged response to compel Ankara and Doha to curb their malign conduct.
The National Interest
Experts
Clifford D. May
Founder & President
- Iran
- Iran Global Threat Network
- Jihadism
- The Long War
- Palestinian Politics
- North Korea
- Russia
- Sanctions and Illicit Finance
- United Nations
Saeed Ghasseminejad
Senior Iran and Financial Economics Advisor
- Iran
- Iran Human Rights
- Iran Politics and Economy
Alireza Nader
Senior Fellow
Reuel Marc Gerecht
Senior Fellow
- Iran
- Iran Politics and Economy
- Turkey
- Arab Politics
- Egypt
What they're saying
"I’ve always tried to have a 'bias for action,' and I appreciate how the Center on Military and Political Power isn’t intended to be a group of luminaries sitting around admiring the problem set, but an organization actively working to promote understanding of the strategies, policies, and capabilities we need to maintain our vital national interests. That bias towards action speaks to me – so I appreciate the endeavor that’s underway here."
Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr.
Commander, U.S. Central Command
"Mr. Dubowitz’s campaign to draw attention to what he saw as the Iran nuclear deal's flaws has taken its place among the most consequential ever undertaken by a Washington think tank leader."
New York Times
"I will tell you that FDD has been such a partner. Whether it is dealing with the Iran deal and the flaws that were in it, all the way to human shields and all the things that we need to do to combat it, you've been a partner in a time where we need partners. And so I appreciate that very much."
Amb. Nikki R. Haley
United States Ambassador to the United Nations
"The output generated today and every day at FDD is invaluable and inexplicably linked to the defense of our nation."
Hon. Ryan D. McCarthy
Acting Secretary, U.S. Army
"A record low for the reach of petrodollars: CIA & FDD fake news w/ selective AlQaeda docs re: Iran can't whitewash role of US allies in 9/11"
Javad Zarif
Iran's Foreign Minister
FDD's Long War Journal [is] the best source of public information on terrorism.
Michael Morell
former Acting and Deputy Director, Central Intelligence Agency
“I have long admired the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. I have long felt it’s very important the issues that are raised here, and I have long felt that when we talk about foreign policy, it has to be done on a bipartisan basis and we have to work very closely together across the aisle.”
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY)
Chairman, House Foreign Affairs Committee
"We rely on a lot of the analysis that FDD does. It's enormously effective at what it does, deeply substantive, passionate about its work, all the sorts of things that you would want in a think tank."
Brian Hook
Special Representative for Iran, U.S. Department of State
“It is the efforts of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies that is dedicated to these issues day in and day out – your work every day makes a real difference in these battles that we wage.”
Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL)
“I love FDD. … I want to thank FDD for the work it's done over the years on so many critical issues. ... We have drawn heavily on the scholarship and analysis of FDD. … We need organizations like FDD to continue their scholarship on the threats that we face.”
LTG (Ret.) H.R. McMaster
Former National Security Advisor
“FDD's National Security Fellows Program gave me a better sense of the variety of career paths available to ambitious young national security professionals. It showed me that one doesn’t need to adhere rigorously to some pre-established “career path;” the most successful policy makers and intellectuals are those who reject prevailing paradigms and forge their own way.”
Rep. Michael Gallagher
(R-WI-8), 2011 FDD National Security Fellow
"As FDD knows and has exposed very well, Iranian commercial airlines play a critical role in ferrying Qods Force operatives, weapons, equipment, and funds to international locations in furtherance of Iranian state-sponsored terror operations."
Sigal Mandelker
Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence
“The intelligence community notes what FDD does and deeply appreciates it. Your scholarship shows connections between a whole bunch of nefarious actors out there – proliferators, sanctions-busters, and money-launderers. What it is you’re able to do with open sources complements and reinforces what goes on inside the intelligence community.”
Gen. Michael Hayden
Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency
“The Foundation is making a difference across the world.”
George W. Bush
Former President
Projects
Overnight Brief: January 23, 2020
Read Full BriefToday In Issues:
FDD Research & Analysis
- "Grey zone is the new black: Too many smart people don’t grasp that a war is being waged against us," The Washington Times
- "Time to Redouble U.S. Defense Support for Taiwan," Bradley Bowman and Andrew Gabel
The Must-Reads
- Iran uses violence, politics to try to push US out of Iraq
- WINEP’s Farzin Nadimi: Lifting the arms restrictions on Iran: What will and won’t change
- 'Nightmare' in Venezuela: Maduro's alliance with Hezbollah raises specter of terror threat, analysts say
- Ambassador Richard A. Grenell: Why EU should ban Hezbollah
- U.S. seeks big contempt fines against Turkey's Halkbank
- Bloomberg’s Eli Lake: Why the Saudi Crown prince needs cyberweapons
- AEI’s Alexa Santry: The Middle East is still worth it
- Efforts to denuclearize North Korea will continue despite hard-line minister, U.S. says
- China student’s jailing for U.S. tweets shows Beijing’s reach
- Chaos as militants overran airfield, killing 3 Americans in Kenya
- Facing pushback from allies, U.S. set for broader Huawei effort
- German defense chief warns Islamic State could resume ‘terror’