In his book "The Return of Marco Polo's World," Robert D. Kaplan emphasizes a shift in strategy regarding U.S. involvement in the Greater Middle East and Central Asia. He argues for a transition from the traditional approach of domain control to one focused on domain denial, where the primary objective is not to establish dominance but to disrupt and deter adversaries. This perspective suggests that American military efforts should be more about preventing hostile actors from gaining a foothold rather than trying to impose control.

Kaplan reflects on how, in hindsight, applying this strategy post-9/11 in Afghanistan might have been more effective. Instead of attempting to fully control the region, which proved difficult, a strategy centered on disruption could have aligned better with America’s strategic interests, allowing for a focus on minimizing threats rather than entrenching itself in ongoing conflicts.