Iraq’s future, if it still has any, will depend first and foremost on Iraqi Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds, and, secondly, on Iraq’s neighbors and their interests and risk calculations. But even if Iraq does fall apart after US withdrawal, it will be of vital importance to contain the consequences of its disintegration within Iraq’s own borders.
伊拉克的未来（如果它还有的话）将会首先有赖于伊拉克的什叶派、逊尼派和库尔德人；其次，还要依靠其邻国、它们的利益和风险计算。但即便伊拉克在美国撤军后真的四分五裂，将其分裂的后果限制在伊拉克国内也是至关重要的。这将需要建立一种只有在美国力促之下才能达成的区域共识。