queue

Why would I even consider launching a full scale attack on my own country?

elwoodblues

Because it's just what country A won't expect, the bastards.

mshah2k

Bah, you know what I mean

Machiavelli

The problem is the "desperately need" condition.

Suppose it was you that was supposed to go and expose yourself to enemy fire because we "desperately need" oil. Would you feel noble and just in killing over this "need"? Do you think this need is worth risking your life and the lives of countless others? How does this need serve us? Is it so we can all have complete freedom to drive whereever we want in 13mpg vehicles? Are we willing to kill or die over this? Has human life been devalued that much?

The "desperate need" isn't a desperate need at all, it's a "burning desire".

Happy Wonderer

Continue negotiations, they are always about price.

Turn it around and you will see why. You are in a country that has a resource that a neighbor desperately wants. This neighbor is stronger than you.

You have two choices in your scenario:

a) Refuse to negotiate and eventually have your neighbor take your resource. Result: you are dead, and your neighbor has the resource.

b) Negotiate a high price -- as long as your price is less than the cost (including non-monetary cost) of war, a rational neighbor will agree to pay. Result: you are rich, you can buy weapons to fend off future agression, and you have a bit of a lever on your evil neighbor.

hw

mshah2k

Hmm, good idea. I hadn't thought of it. But then again, Country A could be fundamentalist zealots who care ntohing else but to see you fail.