Rudyard Griffiths

Welcome to this special edition of the Monk Debates podcast.

On this episode, we are sharing the opening statements from the Monk Debate on foreign wars, which took place last Wednesday, May 20th, in front of a packed audience at Toronto's Meridian Hall.

Against the backdrop of America's war with Iran, and after nearly three decades of disastrous Middle East interventions, the debate asked whether the U.S.

should continue intervening abroad and what that means for the future of geopolitics.

The resolution was, be it resolved, don't go hunting monsters.

Arguing against the motion was Mike Pompeo, the 70th U.S.

Secretary of State, former director of the CIA, and four-term U.S.

congressman.

He was joined by Toria Newland, whose 35-year career in the U.S.

Foreign Service includes roles as acting deputy secretary of state, assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasian affairs, and U.S.

ambassador to NATO.

Arguing in favor of the motion were two former Munk debaters and the world's leading proponents of U.S.

foreign policy and military restraint.

John Mearsheimer, the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, and Stephen Wall, Professor of International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School.

As with all of our Monk Debates, the live audience voted on this resolution prior to hearing the debate.

Initially, 55% of attendees favored the debate motion and 45% were opposed.

Let's now join the debate in progress with Stephen Walt giving his opening statement, arguing in favor of the motion, be it resolved, don't go hunting monsters.

Well done, Stephen.

All that time in the Harvard lecture hall, you still had 17 seconds on the clock.

We appreciate that.