Peter Bergen’s recent book offers a comprehensive examination of nearly 25 years of U.S. military engagement in the Middle East, chronicling a series of strategic errors, miscalculations, and policy failures that have shaped the so-called “war on terror.” As a veteran journalist and national security analyst, Bergen draws on extensive interviews and research to trace the trajectory of American involvement from the pre-9/11 intelligence failures through ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and beyond.
The book highlights key moments including the failure to heed warnings of an impending Al Qaeda attack before September 11, 2001, the rapid overthrow of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, and the ill-fated invasion of Iraq. Bergen underscores how initial successes in counterinsurgency tactics, particularly in Iraq, ultimately could not overcome the broader strategic shortcomings that led to prolonged instability and violence. He also details the emergence of ISIS and the Taliban’s resurgence, pointing to the ongoing fragility of U.S. gains.
Bergen is critical of multiple U.S. administrations, particularly the George W. Bush and Donald Trump presidencies. He accuses Bush of pursuing dubious justifications for the Iraq war and then working to manage the political fallout as the conflict became increasingly entrenched. Regarding Trump, Bergen highlights the former president’s tendency to prioritize personal instincts and political optics over coherent strategy. One illustrative episode Bergen recounts involves Trump’s wife, Melania, suggesting the president emphasize the role of a military dog involved in the raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a move Trump incorporated into his public remarks.
A particularly severe critique is reserved for Trump’s handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Bergen argues that the 2020 peace deal, negotiated exclusively between the Trump administration and the Taliban without including the elected Afghan government, effectively paved the way for the swift collapse of the Afghan state. He further contends that President Joe Biden’s decision to proceed with the troop withdrawal in line with the agreement compounded this failure, transforming what might have been a negotiated transition into a chaotic retreat. Bergen suggests this perceived weakness may have influenced Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine the following year.
On the Obama administration, Bergen offers a more measured assessment. While acknowledging Obama’s reliance on drone strikes as a key counterterrorism tool, he notes the controversial consequences including civilian casualties and increased anti-American sentiment in the region. The book also critiques the lack of foresight and planning evident in more recent U.S. actions, particularly under Trump’s air campaign against Iran in early 2024. Bergen argues that despite advances in drone warfare demonstrated during the Ukraine conflict, U.S. policymakers failed to anticipate or adequately prepare for Iran’s drone capabilities, resulting in a poorly conceived engagement.
Throughout, Bergen emphasizes a recurring theme: successive U.S. leaders have consistently failed to adequately plan for the aftermath of military interventions. This shortsightedness, he argues, has contributed to repeated cycle of crises and setbacks in the Middle East. Bergen’s latest work offers a detailed and sobering account of these developments, with an eye toward understanding the strategic missteps that continue to shape U.S. foreign policy in the region.