The Bulwark
· collected 2026-09-12 · by Jonathan V. Last
commentary
This article discusses how some terrorist organizations' objectives can be partially realized over time, using al Qaeda as an example. It argues that outcomes such as the United States withdrawing from the Middle East and Iran gaining regional dominance align with goals set by al Qaeda twenty-five years ago. The piece suggests that while terrorism is morally repugnant, it sometimes achieves its strategic aims.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Jonathan V. Last argues in an article that the United States is on the verge of being forced out of the Middle East, with Israel becoming isolated internationally. He notes that Iran, through its control over the Strait of Hormuz, is poised to become a dominant regional power. These developments align partially with some goals set by al Qaeda twenty-five years ago, leading Last to contemplate the idea that "sometimes terrorism works." However, without access to the full text or corroborating sources, evaluating this claim requires caution.
Written for “Terrorism Efficacy Debate” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
-
Sometimes terrorism works.
right suggests that terrorist actions can be effective and achieve desired outcomes
-
The United States is on the verge of being chased out of the Middle East. Israel, which had been close to normalizing relations with its neighbors, is an international pariah state.
right implies that terrorist actions have led to negative consequences for U.S. and Israeli interests
-
The Islamic Republic of Iran now controls the Strait of Hormuz and will soon be the dominant power in the region.
right suggests that terrorism has contributed to Iranian dominance in the Middle East
Leaning score +0.65 for article 8393 (high confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-12
The United States is on the verge of being chased out of the Middle East.
asserted
States → chase → East
Israel, which had been close to normalizing relations with its neighbors, is an international pariah state.
asserted
which → normalize → neighbors
The Islamic Republic of Iran now controls the Strait of Hormuz and will soon be the dominant power in the region.
asserted
Republic → control → region
In a fashion, these outcomes match some of al Qaeda’s goals from twenty-five years ago.
asserted
outcomes → match → goals
Today I want to talk about an idea that isn’t very nice: Sometimes terrorism works.
asserted
terrorism → want → idea
Join Bulwark+ to unlock the rest
Become a paying member of The Bulwark to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content.
asserted
Join → join → post
A subscription gets you:
- Unlimited access to articles and newsletters including The Triad by JVL and Receipts by Catherine Rampell.
- Ad-free editions of our shows (with transcripts) and member-only shows like The Secret Podcast.
- Plus community chats and commenting features.
asserted
subscription → get → Podcast
Your support helps keep our work sustainable and available to those who cannot afford a membership.
asserted
who → help → membership
