America’s inability to adequately game-plan and execute a clean withdrawal from Afghanistan brings into question the foresight and competency of the nation’s political and foreign policy establishment. Hoover Institution senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss what went wrong in Kabul, the harm done to US prestige, and whether the image of a weakened America at odds with its NATO allies opens the door to Chinese and Russian aggression.

Recorded August 24, 2021


WATCH THE EPISODE

Cast

John H. Cochrane

John H. Cochrane

Sir Niall Ferguson

Sir Niall Ferguson

H.R. McMaster

H.R. McMaster

Related

Articles

How Targeted Misinformation Stalks Its Victims

False allegations pursue democracy activists, entangling them financially and personally.

September 4, 2026

Articles

For Asia’s Developing Economies, Two Roads Diverge

As the well-trodden path to prosperity seems to fade, demography and technology push nations to take China’s way. A wise America can disrupt this.

September 2, 2026

Videos

Meritocracy, Exams, And The Knowledge That Matters

Can a test really reveal the best minds?

September 7, 2026