(De)escalation

The recent arrest and prompt release of 10 US service personal illustrates the importance of a measured response and the bearing fruit of improving diplomatic relations; blow-hards please take note.

In a similar incident several years ago, British naval personal were held for a week. In contrast the US service members were treated to a good meal in almost luxurious conditions. Of course some might argue that is a reflection of US projection of power, but thsoe are the same people who complain about how little fear and respected the US has has abroad; both can't be true.

Escalation, generally though bellicose rhetoric, would have been unlikely to provoke anything but a similarly belligerent response. And that goes nowhere  but stalemate very quickly from which climb-downs are hard for both sides. Better not to get into a position you later have to back away from.

The same dynamic is played out at an individual level when the police act aggressively in their initial encounter and meet indignation, particularly from  from innocent members of the public; that indignation is perceived as belligerent un-cooperativeness and leads to further escalation. The result is ugly an confrontation that could easily have been avoided, as for example in the tragic case of Sandra Bland.