The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Archive: The End of U.S. Ambition in the Middle East with Steven Cook
11 snips
Aug 17, 2025 
Steven Cook, a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of 'The End of Ambition', dives deep into America's complex history in the Middle East. He discusses the intricate dynamics of U.S. foreign policy, revealing how oil and alliances shape decisions. Cook critiques attempts at promoting democracy and highlights the repercussions of U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He also addresses the lingering instability in Gaza and calls for a pragmatic approach to U.S. engagement, emphasizing the region's pivotal role in global politics.
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Tahrir Square Visit Informs Perspective
- Steven Cook recounts being in Tahrir Square in 2011 and observed locals did not ask the U.S. to 'get it right.'
- That experience contradicted Washington's rush to see the uprisings as an opportunity for U.S. intervention.
Prevention Beats Transformation
- Transformation aims after 1991 (peace processes, democracy promotion, Iraq war, JCPOA) failed to deliver and often worsened outcomes.
- Preventing bad outcomes is more achievable and constructive than trying to remake societies.
Values Versus Interests Clash
- U.S. interests and values in the Middle East often conflict; pushing U.S. democratic values can weaken partnerships.
- Public promotion of human rights can push regional states toward China and Russia and reduce U.S. leverage.
