Is U.S. military policy to blame for the current instability in the Middle East? From a proxy war in Yemen to an ongoing civil war in Syria, a number of conflicts have shaken traditional alignments in the Middle East to their core. _New York Times_ bestselling author **Andrew Bacevich** discusses what the U.S. can do to secure its interests in the region. Prior to becoming Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History at the Boston University Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Dr. Bacevich served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Based on his expertise in the topic and insights from his book _America's War for the Greater Middle East_ (2016), he outlines the various traditional alliances in the Middle East and how American engagement has influenced decision making in the region. (Image: U.S. Naval War College (120612-N-LE393-170) [[CC BY-SA 2.0]](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ "BYSA 2"), via [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:120612-N-LE393-170_(7368347472).jpg "Andrew Bacevich cover"))
