Squandered Opportunities

Richard argues that the last 30 years of American foreign policy can be summed up as a period of squandered potential, contrasting it with the post-World War II era of significant achievements. While acknowledging some successes like NAFTA and PEPFAR, he emphasizes the failures in the Greater Middle East, where overambitious attempts at transformation led to a waste of resources and lives. The discussion highlights a critical reflection on the lack of meaningful progress and the missed opportunities to build lasting global institutions.