Topic For Discussion

[Guest MikeSC]

OK, Bush has received a lot of complaints for not using diplomacy more in his foreign policy.

 

So, I will ask a question:

 

Does diplomacy WORK?

 

Honestly, think about it: Diplomacy didn't stop the Civil War. Diplomacy didn't stop World War I (in fact, it helped cause it). It didn't stop World War II. It didn't stop the Cold War. It didn't stop Saddam's regime in Iraq.

 

So, when has diplomacy really worked?

-=Mike

[Corey_Lazarus]

It doesn't work in most cases, but it's always good to use diplomacy first, because if you then have to go into a fight due to diplomacy not working, it's nice to point back and say "hey, I tried diplomacy, and it didn't work, so now I'll try fighting."

[The Metal Maniac]

I agree with Laz.

 

If you try to talk things out, and it fails, then at least you tried. You didn't just charge in with all guns blazing.

 

Besides, even if diplomacy fails in 90% of cases, I'd say that the lives saved in those 10% where it works, makes it worth it to try.

[Jobber of the Week]

Diplomacy doesn't always work (see some certain governments we've been seeing in the news lately.) But the results of failed diplomacy affect people less than the results of war, even though we're pretty good at the latter option.

 

George Washington used to stress war as a last resort, but he also stressed not to get too close to your allies, for you might wind up fighting their wars.

[Guest Wildbomb 4:20]

Diplomacy did, however, end the Cuban Missle Crisis. And what a hellstorm it would've been had it didn't work.

 

Sure, diplomacy doesn't work in most cases; a sense of nationalism or mere pride will drive people to confrontation that can't be avoided. But in those few cases where it does work, it works out well, as shown by the end of the Cuban Missle Crisis. So it at least deserves a whole-hearted attempt before someone decides that war will be the ultimate action.

[Jingus]

I thought a blockade of heavily armed battleships was what ended the Cuban missle crisis?

[Guest Cerebus]

Camp David between Israel & Egypt (we all know how well it worked between Israel and Palestine however...)

[Firestarter]

I thought a blockade of heavily armed battleships was what ended the Cuban missle crisis?

No, the Cuban missile crisis was ended by making the Soviets realise that our strategic first-strike capability would overwhelm them within minutes of the launch of their tactical nukes. Khrushchev realised that the face-off was spinning out of control and he decided to put a stop to it before we took him apart. Neither conventional arms nor diplomacy played any significant role, despite RFK's meetings with Dobrynin.

[2GOLD]

I can work, but it rarely works. I'm sure there have been many but you don't hear about them unless someone reveals it in a book like the Cuban Missile Crisis.

 

And don't we usually try diplomacy first anyway??? Has there been a war that America has entered into that we didn't try to solve at the table before battle?

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

It rarely works. Look at WWII for an example of how wrong dipolamcy can go.

 

And there's no reasoning with the nutjobs in Al Queda, etc.