Steven A. Cook

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.

Maybe now it will be possible to figure out what is happening in Syria...

I'm going to put money in my mattress. How do you feel about crypto? 🙄

I suspect the Vice President's secret service detail kept protesters at a safe distance.

Was wondering the same...

I gave up mine on quality issues.

Israel’s Peace With Egypt Is Starting to Crack The end of the countries’ historic peace deal was once unimaginable—but is now on the horizon.

I don't think I'm being an alarmist...

Trump’s Real Estate Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff’s lack of diplomatic experience is his greatest strength—and potentially his fatal weakness.

I could get behind Witkoff but the Israeli-Palestinian conflict isn't a real estate deal...

The Sheer Lunacy of Trump’s Gaza Takeover Plan Seizing the Palestinian territory would involve U.S. war crimes and utter regional chaos.

In just one press conference, Trump undermined U.S. credibility and added more uncertainty and instability to a region that has experienced too much of both, writes @stevenacook.bsky.social.