More generally, these actors’ actions in the region must never be shaped by the delusion that the Sunnis, Shia, or any other ethnic or religious minority is on their side. One lesson common to all of the Middle Eastern timelines is that all local actors are on their own side – and more than willing to draw foreigners into their wars if doing so fortifies them against their enemies.
更一般地说，这些行动方在该地区的行为决不能被“与逊尼派、什叶派或其他种族和宗教少数派站在一起”之类的幻觉左右。一个三大中东时间线的共同教训是，所有本地行动方都站在自己的立场上——如果吸引外国人加入战争有利于它们与敌人作战，它们会毫不犹豫地这样做。