On September 10, 2001, the United States stood at the height of its power.

Twenty-five years later, what happened to the American moment?

In this special 25th-anniversary episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni sits down with historian and political scientist Professor Roy Casagranda for a sweeping — and at times fiercely provocative — conversation about America before 9/11, the choices it made afterwards, and the world those decisions helped create.

Was the invasion of Iraq the great strategic mistake of the post-9/11 era?

Did two decades of war give China the time and strategic space it needed to catch up with the United States?

How did Washington’s relationship with Vladimir Putin unravel?

And is Donald Trump dismantling the post-9/11 order — or is he ultimately a product of it?

From George H. W. Bush and Boris Yeltsin to George W. Bush, Iraq, Afghanistan, Putin, China, Trump, Iran and the remilitarisation of Germany, Casagranda challenges conventional accounts of the last quarter-century of American power.

Some of his arguments are deliberately contentious. That is precisely the point of this conversation: challenge the assumption, test the argument, and examine the consequences.

Twenty-five years after the attacks that changed America and the world, one question hangs over the entire discussion:

DID THE UNITED STATES USE ITS EXTRAORDINARY POWER WISELY AFTER 9/11 — AND IF NOT, CAN IT RECOVER WHAT IT LOST?


ABOUT PROFESSOR ROY CASAGRANDA

Roy Casagranda is a Professor of Government, political scientist, historian, public lecturer and commentator on Middle Eastern affairs.

He is widely known for his interdisciplinary approach, combining history, politics, economics, philosophy and culture to explain contemporary global events.

He is also a Golden Narrative Laureate and a regular commentator on international affairs.


ROY'S WORK

BOOKS

• The Blood Throne of Caria
• Empire of the Nightingale


CURRENT LECTURE SERIES

Sessions from the Past — Museum of the Future, Dubai (2025–2026)

Including:

• The 1000-Year Legacy of Ibn Sina
• The Roman Republic
• The Great Library of Alexandria
• The Reconquista
• Modern Ideologies and Political Thought


FOLLOW PROFESSOR ROY CASAGRANDA

YouTube:
Dr. Roy Casagranda YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@DrRoyCasagranda

Apple Podcasts:
Dr. Roy Casagranda Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/dr-roy-casagranda-podcast/id1837193563

X / Twitter:
@RoyCasagranda

Facebook:
Roy Casagranda Books & Lectures
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=6157983973489

On September 10, 2001, the United States stood at the height of its power.
Twenty-five years later, what happened to the American moment?
In this special 25th-anniversary episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni sits down with historian and political scientist Professor Roy Casagranda for a sweeping &mdash; and at times fiercely provocative &mdash; conversation about America before 9/11, the choices it made afterwards, and the world those decisions helped create.
Was the invasion of Iraq the great strategic mistake of the post-9/11 era?
Did two decades of war give China the time and strategic space it needed to catch up with the United States?
How did Washington&rsquo;s relationship with Vladimir Putin unravel?
And is Donald Trump dismantling the post-9/11 order &mdash; or is he ultimately a product of it?
From George H. W. Bush and Boris Yeltsin to George W. Bush, Iraq, Afghanistan, Putin, China, Trump, Iran and the remilitarisation of Germany, Casagranda challenges conventional accounts of the last quarter-century of American power.
Some of his arguments are deliberately contentious. That is precisely the point of this conversation: challenge the assumption, test the argument, and examine the consequences.
Twenty-five years after the attacks that changed America and the world, one question hangs over the entire discussion:
DID THE UNITED STATES USE ITS EXTRAORDINARY POWER WISELY AFTER 9/11 &mdash; AND IF NOT, CAN IT RECOVER WHAT IT LOST?
 ABOUT PROFESSOR ROY CASAGRANDA
Roy Casagranda is a Professor of Government, political scientist, historian, public lecturer and commentator on Middle Eastern affairs.
He is widely known for his interdisciplinary approach, combining history, politics, economics, philosophy and culture to explain contemporary global events.
He is also a Golden Narrative Laureate and a regular commentator on international affairs.
 ROY'S WORK
BOOKS
&bull; The Blood Throne of Caria &bull; Empire of the Nightingale
 CURRENT LECTURE SERIES
Sessions from the Past &mdash; Museum of the Future, Dubai (2025&ndash;2026)
Including:
&bull; The 1000-Year Legacy of Ibn Sina &bull; The Roman Republic &bull; The Great Library of Alexandria &bull; The Reconquista &bull; Modern Ideologies and Political Thought
 FOLLOW PROFESSOR ROY CASAGRANDA
YouTube: Dr. Roy Casagranda YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@DrRoyCasagranda
Apple Podcasts: Dr. Roy Casagranda Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/dr-roy-casagranda-podcast/id1837193563
X / Twitter: @RoyCasagranda
Facebook: Roy Casagranda Books &amp; Lectures https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=6157983973489

The Focus is the flagship current affairs podcast of SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical  think tank.

Hosted by Dr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focus brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for Jane’s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.

Produced by Neil Smart, The Focus cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

The Focus&nbsp;is the flagship current affairs podcast of&nbsp;SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical &nbsp;think tank.
Hosted by&nbsp;Dr. John Bruni&mdash;a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media&mdash;The Focus&nbsp;brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the&nbsp;Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for&nbsp;Jane&rsquo;s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.
Produced by&nbsp;Neil Smart,&nbsp;The Focus&nbsp;cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.