If it were really true that the fundamental existence of our democratic Western world were about to be destroyed by an Islamist revolution, it would only make sense to seek protection in the full force of the US informal empire. But if one sees our current problems in less apocalyptic terms, then another kind of trahison des clercs comes into view: the blind cheering on of a sometimes foolish military power embarked on unnecessary wars that cost more lives than they were intended to save.
如果民主西方世界的根本生存果真会被一场伊斯兰革命所摧毁，只有寻求美国非正式帝国的全力保护才会有道理。但是，如果人们并不使用这种大难临头的观点看待当前的问题的话，那么就会看到另一种教士的背叛，也就是说，某些时候愚蠢的军事强国进行不必要的战争，造成人的死亡要比战争想要挽救的人还要多，对此却不问原味地喝彩。