Steven A. Cook

The Yellow Line in Gaza Is Supposed to Be Temporary. Israel Is Digging in. Unless Hamas disarms, Israeli troops are unlikely to withdraw further.

Thanksgiving weekend content from me @foreignpolicy.com

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.

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.

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.

My reflections on a recent visit to Lebanon and Syria in @foreignpolicy.com

Those poor little kids...

YouTube video by Council on Foreign Relations Syrians in Ghouta rebuild their lives in the ruins of civil war

Ghouta lies in ruins, but some life is coming back.

youtube.com/shorts/wyWr1...

Two Years After Oct. 7, a Trail of What-Ifs Decisions made early on set the path for a devastating war.

My latest @foreignpolicy.com

A Trail of What Ifs and the Roads Not Taken

foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/06/t...

Why Recognizing Palestine Is Meaningless or Even Harmful Recent announcements by France, Britain, and Canada are mostly performative.

Recent announcements by France, Britain, and Canada recognizing a Palestinian state are mostly performative.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/06/r...

The Delusions Driving U.S. Policy in the Middle East Washington is pushing outdated ideas and unrealistic goals.

My latest @foreignpolicy.com

From Ro Khanna to Tom Barrack...

Washington is pushing outdated ideas and unrealistic goals. foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/15/d...

Breaking History for No Good Reason On Middle East politics, Jared Kushner is not the disruptor he says he is.

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...

In the Middle East, a Cold War Redux? China and the U.S. are competing for influence in the troubled region.

Me @foreignpolicy.com I'm getting a Cold War-y vide...

foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/21/i...

Why Recognizing Palestine Is Meaningless or Even Harmful Recent announcements by France, Britain, and Canada are mostly performative.

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...

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.

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...

Nothing like a LEO to start the weekend.

Iran Policy Has Gone Postmodern The Trump administration’s analysis of the war with Iran is an exercise in pure narrative.

Some weekend reading from me @foreignpolicy.com

Trump's Iran Policy Has Gone Postmodern

Just got a call from someone claiming to be from US Customs and Border Protection. Clearly a scam. Be careful out there, folks.

Why Trump Changed His Mind on Iran For months, he seemed to prefer a nuclear deal over military action—until he didn’t.

My latest @foreignpolicy.com

"Why Trump Changed His Mind on Iran"

Israel Is Going for the Death Blow on Iran The Israeli attack on Iran is about much more than its nuclear program.

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...

The World’s Criticism Doesn’t Bother Israel Voices opposing the war in Gaza are getting louder—but Israelis have no trouble ignoring them.

New by me @foreignpolicy.com

Trump Gets the Middle East Right The U.S. president has correctly abandoned decades of tradition in the region.

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.

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.

"Begs the question." Grrrr.

With Iran, No Action Might Be the Best Approach Negotiations could strengthen the regime—and so could military strikes.

Me @foreignpolicy.com

Washington's binary thinking on Iran obscures a better way forward...

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.

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.

Turkey Can’t Live With, or Without, Erdogan After decades in office, Turkey’s president has put his country in an impossible position.

My latest @foreignpolicy.com

Syrians Will Never All Get Along Like elsewhere in the Middle East, sectarianism is baked into Syrian society.

It was only a matter of time before the realities of Syria pierced the mostly optimistic and encouraging recent accounts of the country’s transition from the Assad dynasty, writes @stevenacook.bsky.social. foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/13/s...

Syrians Will Never All Get Along Like elsewhere in the Middle East, sectarianism is baked into Syrian society.

My latest @foreignpolicy.com The obstacles to a better Syria are significant. Like elsewhere in the Middle East, sectarianism is baked into Syrian society. foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/13/s...

😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

Also, not good quality cars.