Originally Posted by btphone54

Say you were the leader of a large country, your populace was loyal to you, your military was the strongest in the area. You had no fear of your neighbors and they nearly paid tribute to you.

Say that recently you had started up negotiations with one of your neighbors to create an alliance, a new country. You proposed that it would be beneficial to everyone (mostly yourself) and their borders would be dropped. You never expected him to say anything but yes, but as soon as you finish the word 'dropped' he immediately stands up and says that the meeting is over.

Annoyed with this resistant leader, you start negotiations with the others. This time you're a bit more aggressive in pushing your agenda. Out of fear, they join you. They drop their borders and your troops pour over the borders to their new assignments on the other side. What you had hoped would be a satisfying day crinkles after all of your plans had not worked.

One country had refused without a word of discussion. Every time you think of the dismissal, your blood runs a little hotter, and you're angry at the once-afraid country that refused your proposal. So you make a plan in your anger, your western borders are still brimming with troops and you decide to declare war if another meeting is refused or goes badly.

You set up another meeting and he refuses once again. Before he leaves, you reach into your pocket and pull out a radio connected to your military commander and your guards outside. You have a couple seconds to think about it.

What would you choose? Be honest about it, I myself would declare war before he leaves and take him prisoner, I have the advantage, and I'd take it. Declaring war wouldn't cause too much pain, his people are poor and ignorant. They are already subservient to their strong neighbor (you) and would accept your leadership easily.

I'd like to seperate the humanists from the realists here. If you declare war, the pitious country with the rebellious leader would fall and you'd have completed your goals. On the other hand, if the leader is like this, maybe the country is stronger than you thought. The country is prideful and considering the leader's attitude, it is likely that many of the people would share that. The invasion could lead to the suffering of tens of thousands. Or none.

Again I ask, would you declare war on the country that resisted your will?

Consider the question carefully and answer.