“The rise of ISIS starts with a Jordanian thug named Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who founded ISIS' parent organization, al Qaeda, in Iraq. What gave Zarqawi the opportunity to create al Qaeda in Iraq? It was, of course, George W. Bush's decision to invade Iraq in 2003.”

American journalist and national security analyst Bergen is a leading voice on terrorism and geopolitics, known for his work as CNN’s chief national security correspondent and as a senior director at the New America Foundation. His books and reporting have shaped public understanding of conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and beyond.