Kicking the Hornet's Nest: US Foreign Policy in the Middle East from Truman to Trump

by Daniel E. Zoughbie

An investigation of how the choices of twelve US presidents, from Truman to Trump, have fueled turbulence and turmoil in the Middle East. And the one president who chose a better way.

Kicking the Hornet’s Nest is an exploration of how twelve US presidents have shaped the Middle East, often unleashing instability and conflict along the way. It is also the story of one US president who successfully charted a better course. From Truman to Trump, Daniel Zoughbie unpacks the decisions that have set the stage for today’s unrest. But this book is more than just a history lesson; it’s an analysis of presidential decision-making and its far-reaching consequences.

Today, the Middle East stands as a volatile landscape, more tumultuous than at any time since the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Zoughbie paints a vivid picture of how nearly every major nation-state in the Middle East and North Africa has grappled with existential crises in the recent years, paving the way for terrorist groups to threaten national sovereignty and for local conflicts to destabilize world order.

Drawing on a vast array of primary sources and interviews with world leaders, the narrative explores pressing issues like nuclear proliferation, genocide, and nationalist conflicts fueled by sectarian fervor that have triggered global refugee waves. Kicking the Hornet’s Nest is a study of US presidential decision-making and foreign policy. Zoughbie reveals the essential information necessary for anyone seeking to understand eight decades of US foreign policy and its profound impact on billions of lives worldwide.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Middle East, War, American History, Audiobook

432 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 2025

Reviews

[Kadin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Points deducted for some easily checkable mistakes (like the fact that Truman and Eisenhower were from Missouri and Texas, respectively, not Kansas). But in general I thought it was a pretty good surface look at the topic at hand. Zoughbie doesn't pull punches and he doesn't seem to be biased towards one party in his analysis. Full marks for being accessible: this book is written by a PhD but you don't need one in political science to understand it.

[Brody Woodard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! It’s amazing to see from President Truman to President Trump’s first term the varying President’s and how the dealt with the Middle East from when Israel was officially recognized as its own state in 1948

[Gabriella · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hereby charge defendant D.E. Zoughbie with the following:
I. Writing a book on the Middle East with funding from the Charles Koch Foundation
II. Suggesting that in order to make a two-state solution viable for both sides, it’s a great idea for Gaza to capitalize on its access to the “stunning Mediterranean coast… via the construction of Dubai-esque artificial islands”
III. Invoking Yertle the Turtle in an ADULT book for ADULTS to explain why oppression is bad
IV. Writing the sentence “The First Iraq War can therefore be viewed as the unfortunate prelude to the disastrous Second Iraq War.”
Also, Daniel, please listen to me: YOU NEED TO FIRE YOUR EDITOR!!!!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was some excellent history in this book. My only complaint really is the Monday morning quarterbacking that books like this generally engage in. “Such and such president got us in a long war… such and such president was unwilling to go to war, rather he wanted to make a deal.” The author literally sees both leaders as deeply flawed. But he ends with a good argument that dialogue slows down the deep feelings and rifts between nations. I agree with this. But none of us have the answers that would satisfy everyone over the complex issues swirling around in the Middle East, especially the deep feelings over the holy land. I don’t think it will ever be solved to everyone’s satisfaction. A great middling of ideas must take place to make this land a place where all can raise their families and worship their creator.

[Lili · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read about half of it so far and found it incredibly insightful. This book brilliantly illustrates the patterns of US involvement in the region over the past few decades and their consequences. While some sections are quite detailed in their historical and political intricacies, I appreciate how it connects the policies of different governments. This book has made me rethink many of my previous preconceived notions about US foreign policy. It's certainly a large book and requires careful digestion, but if you're interested in history and geopolitics, it's definitely worth reading.

[Jaylani Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too bad, the author didn't mention Joe Biden and his foreign policy in the Middle East.