Advocates of dialogue with the Iranians and their Syrian allies, like former United States Secretary of State James Baker, labor under the delusion that they can actually reach an understanding that can enable a graceful US exit from Iraq and help stabilize that wounded country. The delusion is based on two false assumptions: that the Iranians and the Syrians can succeed in Iraq where the US has failed, and that the international community can afford to pay the price of ensuring their cooperation.
像美国前国务卿詹姆斯·贝克（James Baker）那样倡导与伊朗及其叙利亚盟友展开对话的政客梦想能够与伊朗达成谅解，使美国能够从伊拉克体面地撤军，从而在这个已经满目疮痍的国家实现稳定。这样的幻想是基于两种错误的假设：其一是尽管美国在伊拉克遭到了失败，但伊朗和叙利亚能够成功；其二是国际社会能够付出确保伊朗和叙利亚合作所必须的代价。