The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is a Washington, D.C.-based non-partisan 501(c)(3) hawkish and neoconservative think tank focused on national security, foreign policy, and counterterrorism. Originally founded in 2001 as Emet (Hebrew for 'truth') to enhance Israel's image in North America, it changed its name to FDD following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, broadening its mission to address international terrorism and national security. It emphasizes countering Iran, supporting Israel (including promoting Israel's national security perspective to U.S. policymakers), addressing terrorism, and opposing authoritarian regimes through policy research and advocacy, particularly on Middle East issues. Key programs include the Center on Military and Political Power (chaired by LTG (Ret.) H.R. McMaster), Center on Economic and Financial Power (chaired by Juan C. Zarate), Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (chaired by Jim Langevin, housing CSC 2.0), China Program (chaired by Matt Pottinger), Iran Program (led by Mark Dubowitz, including the Iran Energy Project since 2008), Russia Program, Syria Project (since 2012), Turkey Program, and the Long War Journal (directed by Bill Roggio and Thomas Joscelyn). Activities include opposing the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), advising the Trump administration on Iran policy, testifying before Congress, and hosting a 2017 conference on Qatar as a state sponsor of terrorism. In 2019, it formed a lobbying affiliate, FDD Action (501(c)(4)). Controversies include receiving $2.5 million from the United Arab Emirates in 2017 via George Nader and a Canadian firm for the Qatar conference (which FDD denied as foreign government funds after verification); being designated a terrorist organization by Iran in 2019; and accusations of Islamophobia, promoting falsehoods for wars (per Lawrence Wilkerson in 2018), coordinating UAE pressure campaigns against rivals (per The Intercept in 2023), and selective criticism of terrorism that ignores Israeli actions.