The 2003 Iraq war was highly consequential, for it exacerbated Sunni-Shia tensions in one of the region’s most important countries and, as a result, in many of the region’s other divided societies. Regime change in Libya has created a failing state; lukewarm support for regime change in Syria has set the stage for prolonged civil war.
外部性东方的作为和不作为起到了火上加油的效果。2003年伊拉克战争是一个重要事件，它加剧了该地区最重要国家之一的逊尼派-什叶派冲突，结果是该地区其他许多分裂社会的这一冲突也纷纷抬头。利比亚的政权更迭产生了一个失败之国；对叙利亚政权更迭的支持漫不经心，为持久内战提供了条件。