Andrew J. Bacevich: America's War for the Greater Middle East: Origins and Conduct

The Center for Ethics in Society collaborates with the Office of the President to host the Tanner Lectures on Human Values at Stanford.

The Tanner Lectures were established by the late American scholar, industrialist, and philanthropist Obert Clark Tanner. In creating the lectureships, Tanner said, "I hope these lectures will contribute to the intellectual and moral life of mankind. I see them simply as a search for a better understanding of human behavior and human values. This understanding may be pursued for its own intrinsic worth, but it may also eventually have practical consequences for the quality of personal and social life."

Since the promulgation of the Carter Doctrine in 1980, the Greater Middle East has been the site of continuous American military engagement. In the decades that followed, U.S. forces invaded, occupied, garrisoned, bombed, raided, or otherwise made their presence felt in well over two dozen countries with a predominantly Muslim population. The Tanner lectures will take stock of this undertaking, which continues today with no end in sight.

This event is co-sponsored with the Office of the President. Please note that the Tanner Lecture includes two lectures and two associated discussion sessions. All events are free and open to the public.