How can the US exert pressure on Israel to engage in serious negotiations with the Palestinians, or to refrain from attacking Iran, when it offers encouragement – if only through public silence – to Israeli military intervention in Syria? If America’s purpose is to deliver a message to Iran – “Beware, you could be the next target” – many will question its sincerity about restraining Israel.
类似地，将安全委托给盟友也有不正当的心理效应。尤其是在中东。美国如何给以色列施加压力使其参与与巴勒斯坦的严肃谈判，或保持克制不去袭击伊朗，同时又鼓励以色列——只要保持舆论缄默即可——对叙利亚采取军事干预？如果美国的目的是给伊朗放风——“当心，没准你就是下个目标”——那么很多人会质疑美国是否真的想约束以色列。