美国摧毁了作为制约性的地区力量的伊拉克，从而给其传统上的海湾盟国以强烈的一击，因为伊拉克是伊朗的野心的障碍。
By destroying Iraq as a counterbalancing regional force, the US dealt a major blow to its traditional Gulf allies, for whom Iraq served as a barrier against Iran’s ambitions.