Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani appeared on Newsmax to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, warning that the nation is grappling with a dangerous combination of internal political division and a lagging trajectory in artificial intelligence (AI) development. Giuliani argued that the “American AI turtle progress” is failing to keep pace with global adversaries, specifically citing a perceived lack of strategic resolve in the ongoing struggle against the Iranian regime.
This intersection of technological stagnation and geopolitical friction defines the current American anxiety. While the U.S. celebrates its semiquincentennial, the celebratory mood is undercut by a fierce debate over whether the West is losing its competitive edge in the “Intelligence Age.” For Giuliani, the stakes aren’t just economic—they are existential, tied directly to national security and the ability to project power in a multipolar world.
Why AI Dominance Is Now a National Security Imperative
The “turtle progress” Giuliani referenced points to a growing concern among hawks and tech strategists: the gap between private sector innovation and public sector implementation. While companies like OpenAI and Google lead in foundational models, the integration of AI into military and diplomatic strategy has been slower, hampered by bureaucratic friction and ethical debates.
The competition is no longer just about who has the fastest chip, but who can weaponize data for geopolitical leverage. China, through its Council on Foreign Relations analyzed strategic initiatives, has integrated AI into “intelligentized” warfare, blending information operations with kinetic capabilities. When Giuliani links AI to the “failed battle” against Iran, he is touching on the reality that AI-driven surveillance and autonomous drones are the new currency of Middle Eastern proxy wars.
“The race for AI superiority is not merely a commercial contest; it is a struggle for the structural dominance of the global order. Whoever leads in AI will dictate the norms of the next century.” — Dr. Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google and Chair of the National Security Commission on AI.
The Iranian Regime and the Failure of Deterrence
Giuliani’s critique of the “failed battle against the Iranian regime” reflects a long-standing ideological divide over the efficacy of sanctions versus direct pressure. The Iranian government has successfully navigated decades of economic isolation by leveraging “resistance economics” and building deep ties with Russia and China.
The failure Giuliani highlights is the inability of the U.S. to translate tactical superiority into a strategic victory. Iran’s proliferation of low-cost, high-impact drones—often utilized by proxies across the Levant—demonstrates a “disruptive innovation” strategy that bypasses traditional American military spending. The U.S. is fighting a 20th-century war of attrition while Tehran employs 21st-century asymmetric tech.
To understand the depth of this failure, one must look at the U.S. Department of State archives on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The shift from diplomatic engagement to “maximum pressure” and back again has left a vacuum of consistency that Iran has exploited to harden its nuclear infrastructure and expand its regional footprint.
How Internal Division Paralyzes Technological Growth
The “division” Giuliani cited is not merely social; it is institutional. The U.S. is currently experiencing a “decoupling” of its political will from its technical capability. While the U.S. possesses the world’s most advanced semiconductor designs, the political gridlock in Washington often delays the funding and regulatory frameworks necessary to scale these technologies for national defense.
This internal friction creates a “velocity gap.” While the U.S. debates the ethics of AI-driven targeting or the privacy implications of mass data collection, adversaries operate under centralized commands that can pivot resources overnight. The result is a paradox: the U.S. creates the tools of the future but is often too divided to decide how to use them.
“The greatest threat to American leadership in the 21st century is not a lack of ingenuity, but the erosion of a shared national purpose.” — Admiral Mike Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Economic Ripple Effects of the AI Lag
If the U.S. continues its “turtle progress,” the economic consequences will extend far beyond the defense budget. AI is projected to redefine global GDP by automating cognitive labor. A failure to lead in this space means a loss of “compute sovereignty,” where the U.S. becomes dependent on foreign hardware or software standards.
According to data from the International Monetary Fund, AI could affect up to 40% of jobs globally. For the U.S., the risk is a “hollowed-out” middle class if the transition to an AI-driven economy is managed poorly or if the lead is surrendered to a state-led model like China’s. The winners will be those who can marry high-speed AI deployment with a stable regulatory environment—something Giuliani suggests the U.S. is currently failing to do.
The 250th anniversary of the United States serves as a mirror. It asks whether the nation that pioneered the industrial revolution and the internet can survive the transition to the intelligence revolution. Giuliani’s warnings are a call for a “digital mobilization” akin to the efforts of the 1940s, suggesting that without a unified front, the American experiment may find itself an observer rather than a leader in the new global order.
The Big Question: Can a politically fractured America actually achieve the unity required to win a technological arms race, or is the “turtle progress” an inevitable result of our own democratic friction? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
