In the 2026 lecture of our annual lecture series, Chuck Hagel, the 24th U.S. Secretary of Defense, and keynote guest Kurt Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State (2024-2025), discussed the challenges facing American foreign policy toward Asia in the context of the war against Iran. The discussion was moderated by Prof. Robert Pape, Director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats (CPOST), and was followed by a Q&A session from the audience. The Hagel Lecture series, a forum to amplify and encourage greater civic participation in critical discussions, is hosted by CPOST at the University of Chicago.
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34 Comments
The only reason we know how much material Iran has is because of past policies that Trump threw out.
No ICE raids during Obama? Where were you?
1:23:00 is spot on. There is no upside for Iran to give up their nuke program but a lot of downsides. Both gentlemen contributed to it by betraying Ukraine since 2014
I am disappointed to note that there was no mention of or even questions about the one who shall not be named. It'll be a steep climb back if the core realities are not acknowledged.
Liar democrats – US continues its wars around the world be it democrats or republicans.
Sophomoric comment
responses from the
former senator and department secretary
Chuck Hagel is trying
to be or genuine or
masqueradeing as the
proponent for peace. 1:36:51
.
Haphazard debater
who should seriously
prepare for the event
🆚 a man, Curt
Campbell, with an
awesome intelligence
and a profound depth
of knowledge💪💪💪.
North Sea oil is extracted from the UK's territorial waters, and the revenue is retained by the UK under international law. Similarly, Hormouz is within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, so they have the right to levy a toll there. The world will gladly pay one dollar to Iran rather than pay an extra $45 per barrel due to the illegal blockade of America in international waters.
Wow! I hope he wasn’t as incompetent when he was leading Pentagon.
A US strategy going astray in the middle east with this Iran war totally out of control. Pointless waste of life and destruction US military exposed over it's obvious limitations unable to bring this conflict to a satisfactory conclusion. Which further escalates global energy crises, market instability. All that might unable to take control of Hormus straight that is run by an allegedly defeated regime.
Here my take China primary goal is to improve the life of their citizens…while America goal is to dominate the world. Example China bulit the largest network of HSR to facilitate the movement of her people with affordable price…what has American administration did is to fight unnecessary war …while the average person life style is getting Getting worse and worse fighting forever war.
Putin is about to take Kyiv and we are withdrawing our forces from Germany… your guests know this
Europe is protecting Ukraine , not USA, so don't be ironical Americans, we get that we have been sleeping, but now EUROPE is having chance to become stronger, and also be part of your new deciding of 2 spheres….or it will be 3!
Sorry, a waste of time
very highly educated ignorant globalist with out wisdom
Your strategy was to overwhelm America with Marxist clap trap overrun our people with foreign labor, ship our businesses to China, and allow the middle east to fester. Your plan for America was slow death and unending slow decline into poverty for everyone but people like you. And you don’t get why we have rejected your rules based based order? Man, you know how many molecules are in a raindrop but you don’t know when are wet,
Who and/or which countrie/s benefitted from this war was not discussed.
Much appreciated for this valuable program. One constructive feedback: I couldn't figure out why the gentleman at left side of screen was laughing so many times for no reasonable reason.
These guys want to get back to globalist agendas
Kurt Campbell is a classic imperialist advocating for US troops to be in the Middle East as long as they can be there and keep it destabilized and keep Israel on top. The only reason I listened to this is because of Chuck Hagel who I see as a decent man – someone who as a senator opposed the 2003 US invasion of Iraq.
Hagel correctly identifies that the future of the USA depends on Congress doing its job. But he fails to identify AIPAC as a malignant influence over the functioning of Congress. This issue needs honest analysis and correction.
The international order that the USA built post WWII is unravelling. Yes. And the nation leading that unravelling? The USA. This has been happening for years, Trump has only accelerated it in his unique way.
These speakers from the Democrat Party appear to conveniently skirt the Ukraine war / Russia's SMO…. why instigate these things when they only serve Oligarchs…
The establishment of the US was on the Blood and Lives of the First Native Americans ….and then Slavery of Africans and many others….. This karma doesn't leave you and what more the fact that the US is now a Plutocratic Oligarchy…. Good luck to your B50s or is it B60s now…. 🥸
PS. Those Godfather quotes quite appropriate given that it is the "mafia" that's in charge….
Fine words omitting that since ww2 America is the terrorist of the world.
Now with Israel they are committing genocide.
Stay safe Iran.
This wasn't very insightful unfortunately. It felt like they were just pontificating. It probably would have helped to have someone with a different perspective so it could have been a debate. This format felt shallow because it's just people agreeing with each other.
Justifying American terrorism and economic stranglehold of other nations
Preemptively attacking other sovereign nations and deliberately destroying their economies and democracy by regime change, yet want to shamelessly say “American national security”
I wonder, is destroying other countries = American national security? 🧐🤔
All well behaved and kind words , yet the root cause is not highlighted nor the fix
The best role of America in Asia is to leave it and go back fix its problems in the USA
I think these gentlemen are rooted in the past. All the unnecessary danger associated with decades of de-industrialization, destruction of the US middle-class, falling behind in science, engineering, technology, the huge debt buildup, the false perpetrator (flag) attacks and wars, the manipulation of a very corrupted US govt. by a foreign country….. there was plenty to talk about.
Israel needs to learn that lasting legitimacy comes from dialogue and diplomacy, not from military power alone. By relentlessly pushing the U.S. toward a war with Iran, often dismissing negotiation as weakness, Israel risks dragging America into a complete mess that no amount of firepower can resolve. True security isn't built on preemptive strikes or external vetoes over diplomacy; it's built on regional cooperation, verified agreements, and respecting international norms. Power might win battles, but only acceptance, earned through genuine negotiation, can bring lasting peace.
Almost worthless. Typical of individuals heavily invested in the status quo – a total unwillingness to address the primary forces driving outcomes.
Here because of Robert Pape.
America's role is to stsy out of Asia snd mind its own business. It is a racist that presumes the world needs it. The Chicago Project is a racist endeavor.