Although some argue science is apolitical, or “above the fray,” two recent histories illustrate the contemporary geopolitics of science: first, climatology and genetic engineering in American diplomacy; and second, American scientific and technical outreach in the Middle East as part of the war on terror. The United States was the global climate leader during the cold war, championing the UN climate program and the Montreal Protocol to restrict ozone-reducing chemicals. However, industrial opposition to global warming limited American ratification of international agreements even though the country remained at the forefront of climate research. Genetic engineering, meanwhile, had bipartisan and commercial support and the United States led a global initiative – the Human Genome Project – to provide the genetic data necessary for biomedical advances. Commercial concerns shaped diplomacy, as the United States differed with allies over genetic patenting and labeling while pursuing a market-based approach to environmentalism, whether mitigating global warming or preserving biodiversity. Following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, the United States initiated programs to redirect weapons scientists and rebuild Iraq’s scientific and technical infrastructure. American administrations also struggled to slow the Iranian nuclear program, as presidents Bush and Obama adopted different strategies to improve relations.