Steven A. Cook
@stevenacook.bsky.social
Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Views are my own.
Reposted by Steven A. Cook
How Sharaa rules his impoverished, broken, and politically divided country remains an open question, but clearly U.S. President Donald Trump believes a White House visit will help unlock much-needed reconstruction assistance and set Syria on a positive path, writes @stevenacook.bsky.social.
Pivotal U.S. Summit Could Help Mend a Fractured Syria
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa makes a crucial first visit to the White House, with the reconstruction of his war-battered country at stake if he is able to persuade U.S. lawmakers to lift sanctions.
www.cfr.org
November 7, 2025 at 2:15 PM
How Sharaa rules his impoverished, broken, and politically divided country remains an open question, but clearly U.S. President Donald Trump believes a White House visit will help unlock much-needed reconstruction assistance and set Syria on a positive path, writes @stevenacook.bsky.social.
My reflections on a recent visit to Lebanon and Syria in @foreignpolicy.com
Those poor little kids...
Those poor little kids...
For Syrian Refugees, U.S. Aid Cuts Have Been Devastating
Many face a tough choice—remain in squalid camps or return to a troubled homeland.
foreignpolicy.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:20 PM
My reflections on a recent visit to Lebanon and Syria in @foreignpolicy.com
Those poor little kids...
Those poor little kids...
My latest @foreignpolicy.com
A Trail of What Ifs and the Roads Not Taken
foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/06/t...
A Trail of What Ifs and the Roads Not Taken
foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/06/t...
Two Years After Oct. 7, a Trail of What-Ifs
Decisions made early on set the path for a devastating war.
foreignpolicy.com
October 6, 2025 at 12:23 PM
My latest @foreignpolicy.com
A Trail of What Ifs and the Roads Not Taken
foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/06/t...
A Trail of What Ifs and the Roads Not Taken
foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/06/t...
Recent announcements by France, Britain, and Canada recognizing a Palestinian state are mostly performative.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/06/r...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/06/r...
Why Recognizing Palestine Is Meaningless or Even Harmful
Recent announcements by France, Britain, and Canada are mostly performative.
foreignpolicy.com
September 22, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Recent announcements by France, Britain, and Canada recognizing a Palestinian state are mostly performative.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/06/r...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/06/r...
My latest @foreignpolicy.com
From Ro Khanna to Tom Barrack...
Washington is pushing outdated ideas and unrealistic goals. foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/15/d...
From Ro Khanna to Tom Barrack...
Washington is pushing outdated ideas and unrealistic goals. foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/15/d...
The Delusions Driving U.S. Policy in the Middle East
Washington is pushing outdated ideas and unrealistic goals.
foreignpolicy.com
September 15, 2025 at 4:32 PM
My latest @foreignpolicy.com
From Ro Khanna to Tom Barrack...
Washington is pushing outdated ideas and unrealistic goals. foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/15/d...
From Ro Khanna to Tom Barrack...
Washington is pushing outdated ideas and unrealistic goals. foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/15/d...
Now that he is back in the Middle East news, I am resurfacing my review of Jared Kushner's book...
On Middle East politics, Jared Kushner is not the disruptor he says he is. foreignpolicy.com/2022/09/11/b...
On Middle East politics, Jared Kushner is not the disruptor he says he is. foreignpolicy.com/2022/09/11/b...
Breaking History for No Good Reason
On Middle East politics, Jared Kushner is not the disruptor he says he is.
foreignpolicy.com
September 8, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Now that he is back in the Middle East news, I am resurfacing my review of Jared Kushner's book...
On Middle East politics, Jared Kushner is not the disruptor he says he is. foreignpolicy.com/2022/09/11/b...
On Middle East politics, Jared Kushner is not the disruptor he says he is. foreignpolicy.com/2022/09/11/b...
My latests @foreignpolicy.com
Recent announcements by France, Britain, and Canada that they will recognize a Palestinian state are mostly performative.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/06/r...
Recent announcements by France, Britain, and Canada that they will recognize a Palestinian state are mostly performative.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/06/r...
Why Recognizing Palestine Is Meaningless or Even Harmful
Recent announcements by France, Britain, and Canada are mostly performative.
foreignpolicy.com
August 6, 2025 at 8:49 PM
My latests @foreignpolicy.com
Recent announcements by France, Britain, and Canada that they will recognize a Palestinian state are mostly performative.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/06/r...
Recent announcements by France, Britain, and Canada that they will recognize a Palestinian state are mostly performative.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/06/r...
New from Me @foreignpolicy.com
"There are moments when the United States can pursue a narrow and easily defined set of goals than can transform tactical gains into strategic ones. In the case of Syria, this is one of those moments."
foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/22/s...
"There are moments when the United States can pursue a narrow and easily defined set of goals than can transform tactical gains into strategic ones. In the case of Syria, this is one of those moments."
foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/22/s...
Trump Has Leverage With Syria’s Neighbors—Here’s How He Should Use It
U.S. pressure on Israel and Turkey could help stabilize Syria.
foreignpolicy.com
July 22, 2025 at 3:50 PM
New from Me @foreignpolicy.com
"There are moments when the United States can pursue a narrow and easily defined set of goals than can transform tactical gains into strategic ones. In the case of Syria, this is one of those moments."
foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/22/s...
"There are moments when the United States can pursue a narrow and easily defined set of goals than can transform tactical gains into strategic ones. In the case of Syria, this is one of those moments."
foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/22/s...
Nothing like a LEO to start the weekend.
July 11, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Nothing like a LEO to start the weekend.
Just got a call from someone claiming to be from US Customs and Border Protection. Clearly a scam. Be careful out there, folks.
July 8, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Just got a call from someone claiming to be from US Customs and Border Protection. Clearly a scam. Be careful out there, folks.
My latest...
On Oct 9, 2023, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel would "change the Middle East." Here we are.
The Israeli attack on Iran is about much more than its nuclear program. foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/13/i...
On Oct 9, 2023, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel would "change the Middle East." Here we are.
The Israeli attack on Iran is about much more than its nuclear program. foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/13/i...
Israel Is Going for the Death Blow on Iran
The Israeli attack on Iran is about much more than its nuclear program.
foreignpolicy.com
June 13, 2025 at 12:44 PM
My latest...
On Oct 9, 2023, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel would "change the Middle East." Here we are.
The Israeli attack on Iran is about much more than its nuclear program. foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/13/i...
On Oct 9, 2023, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel would "change the Middle East." Here we are.
The Israeli attack on Iran is about much more than its nuclear program. foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/13/i...
Trump’s visit, and particularly his speech in Riyadh, was important for its forthrightness about what he and his administration believe is Washington’s appropriate place in the region. It is a vision—for lack of a better term—that should make both so-called restrainers and interventionists unhappy.
Trump Gets the Middle East Right
The U.S. president has correctly abandoned decades of tradition in the region.
foreignpolicy.com
May 22, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Trump’s visit, and particularly his speech in Riyadh, was important for its forthrightness about what he and his administration believe is Washington’s appropriate place in the region. It is a vision—for lack of a better term—that should make both so-called restrainers and interventionists unhappy.
"Begs the question." Grrrr.
Opinion | This common phrase is widely misused. Is it worth salvaging?
When a phrase has been misused into uselessness, maybe avoiding it is the best policy.
www.washingtonpost.com
May 4, 2025 at 2:52 AM
"Begs the question." Grrrr.
U.S. higher education is the envy of the world—but, with state interference, maybe not for long. foreignpolicy.com/2025/04/09/a...
America’s Universities Could End up Zombies
U.S. higher education is the envy of the world—but, with state interference, maybe not for long.
foreignpolicy.com
April 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
U.S. higher education is the envy of the world—but, with state interference, maybe not for long. foreignpolicy.com/2025/04/09/a...
Farewell Iceman. Thank you for your service.
April 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Farewell Iceman. Thank you for your service.
