Harold Rhode, born on September 19, 1949, is an American policy analyst, orientalist, and Ottoman history scholar specializing in Middle Eastern affairs and Islamic culture. He served for 28 years in the Pentagon's Office of Net Assessment, including as a political advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Rhode was a participant in the secret December 2001 Rome meetings with Ahmad Chalabi, where post-invasion Iraq strategies were planned. Known as a protege of Michael Ledeen, he was a key figure in the pre-Iraq War intelligence apparatus and influenced U.S. policy in the Middle East during the early 2000s, particularly in post-9/11 counterterrorism initiatives. He holds hawkish views on Iran and a strong pro-Israel stance aligned with neoconservative circles emphasizing robust alliances with Israel and containment of Iranian influence. Rhode has traveled extensively throughout the Islamic world and conducted research at universities and libraries in countries including Egypt, Israel, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. He is fluent in multiple languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, French, and Turkish. Beyond his government service, Rhode has contributed to think tanks and advisory roles, continuing to influence discussions on Middle Eastern geopolitics, although his pro-Israel positions have occasionally drawn criticism.