The United States managed to get it right, albeit very slowly, whereas many European countries erred on the side of the status quo for a much longer time, if not systematically, as they refused to see that the region could be evolving in a direction contrary to what they deemed to be in their strategic interest. Historical and geographic proximity, together with energy dependency and fear of massive immigration, paralyzed European diplomats.
尽管过程缓慢，但美国最终做出了正确的选择，而欧洲国家却系统性地在更长时间里错误地希望维持现状，因为他们拒绝承认中东地区可能正朝着在他们看来不利于自身战略利益的方向移动。 历史和地理上的息息相关，再加上能源依赖和对大规模移民潮的惧怕，令欧洲外交官束手无策。