The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Archive: The End of U.S. Ambition in the Middle East with Steven Cook
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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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Ambition Lost After The Cold War
- The U.S. lost sight of clear, achievable goals after the Cold War and pursued grand transformations in the Middle East.
- Those transformative efforts produced little return and often destabilized the region.
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.
Cold War Policy Focused And Effective
- During the Cold War the U.S. prioritized the free flow of oil and regional primacy and generally succeeded at those core goals.
- That practical focus shaped long-term posture and justified a persistent American presence in the Gulf.
