1. Introduction The Argument What This Book Is Not Imposed Costs and Foreign-Policy Consequences Road Map 2. Aggression and Resistance (1898-1989) Weak Occupiers, Strong Societies German and Japanese Exceptionalism Echoes of Imperialism Domestic Constraints on US Intervention Conclusion 3. Cautious Goliath (1989-2001) Toppling Noriega Isolating Saddam Somalia Syndrome Battling Milosevic Engaging Iran Caging Iraq Dividing Serbia Terrorists Beyond Reach Conclusion 4. Warpath (2001-2004) "An Urge for Reprisal" Invading Afghanistan Targeting Iraq Invading Iraq Conclusion 5. Compelled to Compromise (2004-2011) Foreign Provocations Compromising with Insurgents Nation-Building Redux Obama's Surge Conclusion 6. Force Without Authority (2011-2014) America's War, Pakistan's Fight Getting Bin Laden The Arab Spring and American Ambivalence State Collapse in Yemen Regime Change and Its Aftermath in Libya Condemning, But Not Confronting Syria Conclusion 7. Victory Without Invasion (2014-2018) No More Nation-Building Fertile Terrain for "Islamic State" Retribution and Risk-Sharing Prudence Over Panic New President, Same Policy Conclusion 8.

Security in Retreat (2018-2025) Indigenous Regime Change in Syria Iran Nears the Nuclear Threshold Pushing Iran to the Brink Postponing Defeat in Afghanistan Return of the Emirate Conclusion 9. Conclusion The Reemergence of Risk Aversion Persistent Patterns of Regime Change Lessons Learned by Rivals The Dangers of Asymmetric Force References.