In "The Return of Marco Polo's World," Robert D. Kaplan raises critical questions about the consequences of U.S. intervention in Syria, particularly regarding the potential fall of Bashar al-Assad. He argues that while the U.S. may aim to remove a dictator, the aftermath could usher in a regime dominated by Sunni jihadists, leading to significant geopolitical instability.

Kaplan emphasizes the dangers of unanticipated outcomes following regime change. He warns that on subsequent days after Assad's fall, the U.S. might confront the grim reality of ethnic cleansing against the Alawites, a community allied with the Shia. This illustrates the complexities of foreign intervention and the potential for creating worse conditions than those initially aimed to be resolved.