"DSK" wrote in message
.. .
Bert Robbins wrote:
Diplomacy only works when there is a threat of military coercion.

Wrong.

No, he's right. The one example you cited (Marshall Plan) was implemented
*after* military action. Name an instance of international tension that
ended positively as the result of a bribe and *without* the threat of
military action. The closest example that I can find is the downing of the
Navy plane by China just 4 years ago. However, we gained virtually nothing
with our appeasement. China continues to violate international trade laws,
continues to arm rogue nations, and continues to expand its military and
threaten Taiwan.