Add to that the intrinsic uncertainty of foreign affairs, and it is unsurprising that politicians would rather spout empty lines than risk saying something that might blow up in their faces. Indeed, one need only consider the years-long stream of commentary – characterized by partisanship, hearsay, and hostility – following the 2012 attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi to understand leaders’ angst.
第一个原因是西方民主国家夸张的政治氛围，24小时不间断的新闻圈和社交媒体让“曝光政治”（gotcha politics）成为当代秩序。除此之外还有外交事务的内在不确定性，并且，毫不奇怪，政客宁可大放空炮也不愿说一些可能被“打脸”的话。事实上，你只要看一下2012年美国班加西领事馆遇袭后多年的评论情况——充满了党派之争、风言风语和针锋相对——的情况就理解领导人的担心之处了。