On December 2, 2024, the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at convened a select group of students and young professionals at the Hertog Foundation offices in Washington, D.C for a lively and wide-ranging discussion with Dr. Edward Luttwak, renowned author and grand strategist. The interview was conducted by Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, Director of the Straus Center. He and Dr. Luttwak delved into geopolitics, Jewish political behavior, and contemporary challenges in global strategy.
Rabbi Soloveichik framed the evening by invoking one of Luttwak’s provocative essays, “Give War a Chance” (1999) which argues that decisive military action often resolves conflicts more effectively than protracted negotiations or ceasefires. This essay served as a springboard for examining Luttwak’s realist approach to strategy as well as his critique of a brand of “performative” politics that, in his view, is all too common today.
A Realist Approach to Deterrence and Strategy
Luttwak's remarks on Israel’s response to the October 7 Hamas attacks reflected his broader philosophy. He emphasized that Israel’s priority should not be retaliation but the systematic dismantling of Hamas’s infrastructure to reestablish deterrence. Such an approach, he argued, sends a clear message that attacks on Jews will provoke overwhelming consequences. He praised Netanyahu’s refusal to cave to hostage families' demands that might compromise Israeli security but criticized the inclusion of extremist factions in Netanyahu’s government, which he described as a strategic and political misstep.
Expanding on global defense, Luttwak critiqued performative politics—leaders and nations posturing without backing words with action. He cited Taiwan, NATO allies, and others who spend inadequately on defense as emblematic of this issue. Luttwak argued that the U.S. government should compel such allies to take their defense commitments seriously rather than relying disproportionately on American intervention.
Reflecting on Jewish political behavior, Luttwak observed that Jews excel in various domains but falter in politics. Luttwak attributed Jewish excellence to their emphasis on text-based study, pointing to the foundational role of philology in Jewish life. Yet this intellectual rigor has not translated into the pragmatic skills required for effective politics. He attributed this to two factors: the absence of a sovereign state for centuries, which denied Jews the opportunity to develop their political intelligence, and a sentimental attachment to certain political parties, which has clouded pragmatic decision-making. As a result, he characterized Jewish communities as consistently supporting policies and leaders that fail to safeguard their interests. This critique tied into his broader comments on political wisdom, which he distilled as figuring out who are your friends and who are not, a far simpler formula than might be supposed.
American Policy in the Middle East
Turning to American policy, Luttwak highlighted the U.S.’s continued presence in Syria as an example of a low-cost investment yielding strategic influence in the Middle East. He suggested that Iran’s revolutionary ambitions are faltering, presenting an opportunity for the U.S. to take decisive steps to diminish Tehran’s regional power.
Concluding Reflections
Throughout the evening, Luttwak’s commentary underscored the necessity of clarity, pragmatism, and decisive action in geopolitics. Whether addressing Israeli security, American foreign policy, or global defense challenges, his insights emphasized the importance of taking serious, concrete actions over empty rhetoric. This enriching event exemplified the Straus Center’s commitment to fostering serious dialogue on the ethical and strategic dimensions of contemporary challenges.
