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Our Team

John Hannah

Senior Fellow

Areas of Impact:

North Africa, Lebanon, Syria, Arab Spring, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Hezbollah, Iraq, Palestinian Politics, Iran

Biography:

John Hannah brings almost two decades of experience at the highest levels of U.S. foreign policy to his work at FDD.  From 2001-2009, Mr. Hannah served as one of Vice President Dick Cheney's most trusted aides on national security issues.  During the first term of President George W. Bush, he was the Vice President's deputy national security advisor for the Middle East, where he was intimately involved in U.S. policy toward Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, the peace process, and the global war on terrorism.  In President Bush's second term, Mr. Hannah was elevated to the role of Vice President Cheney's national security advisor, where he served as the Vice President's top advisor on the full panoply of international issues from the Middle East to North Korea to Russia.

John Hannah brings almost two decades of experience at the highest levels of U.S. foreign policy to his work at FDD.  From 2001-2009, Mr. Hannah served as one of Vice President Dick Cheney's most trusted aides on national security issues.  During the first term of President George W. Bush, he was the Vice President's deputy national security advisor for the Middle East, where he was intimately involved in U.S. policy toward Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, the peace process, and the global war on terrorism.  In President Bush's second term, Mr. Hannah was elevated to the role of Vice President Cheney's national security advisor, where he served as the Vice President's top advisor on the full panoply of international issues from the Middle East to North Korea to Russia. 

In his previous government service, Mr. Hannah worked as a senior advisor on the staff of Secretary of State Warren Christopher during the administration of President William J. Clinton, and as a senior member of Secretary of State James A. Baker's Policy Planning Staff during the presidency of George H.W. Bush.  Out of government, Mr. Hannah has served as deputy director and senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.  He has also practiced law, specializing in international dispute resolution.  In addition to his work at FDD, Mr. Hannah is currently president of Global Futures LLC, a consulting firm that assists international clients in the areas of geo-political risk mitigation, government relations, and investment/trade promotion.

Mr. Hannah writes and speaks widely on issues related to American foreign policy.  His articles have appeared in such publications as the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and the Wall Street Journal.  He blogs regularly at ForeignPolicy.com and National Review Online

Mr. Hannah received his BA from Duke University and JD from The Yale Law School.

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Erdogan’s Great Gamble

14th May 2013 – Foreign Policy

Erdogan’s Great Gamble

John Hannah

Something quite extraordinary -- perhaps even historic -- is afoot in Turkey. The country's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is engaged in a colossal roll of the political dice... more...

Analysis & Commentary

14th May 2013 – Foreign Policy

Erdogan’s Great Gamble

John Hannah

Something quite extraordinary -- perhaps even historic -- is afoot in Turkey. The country's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is engaged in a colossal roll of the political dice... more...

18th April 2013 – Foreign Policy

Previewing Iraq’s Provincial Elections

John Hannah

This Saturday, Iraqis head to the polls to vote for provincial councils -- the country's first elections since U.S. troops withdrew sixteen months ago. The balloting comes at a time of growing peril for Iraq. more...

19th February 2013 – Foreign Policy

In Obama’s Waning America, a Glimmer of Hope on Energy Security

John Hannah

For national security conservatives, last week's State of the Union address was something of a wasteland. On the most pressing challenges facing the nation -- Iranian and North Korean nukes, Syria's meltdown... more...

2nd January 2013 – Quoted by Nathan Guttman, Forward

Laying Groundwork for Life After Syria’s Assad

John Hannah

As the days of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad increasingly look numbered, Jewish and pro-Israel activists are starting to grapple with the question of who will be in power after he’s gone — and whether... more...

Testimony: