8. Sometimes Making Concessions Leads To Rebellion
Jimmy Carter pressured the Shah of Iran to release political prisoners, including Khomeni. We know how that turned out.
People who don’t understand Arab/Middle Eastern culture often attempt to negotiate and don’t realize that their mindset is so different that negotiation by Western standards is impossible.
Western negotiations are typified by two opposing positions with minor concessions being made at first on both sides to build confidence. Then concessions are made back-and-forth in an escalating manner until the major contention can be dealt with more easily.
Arabs view making concessions as a sign of weakness. They start with the position that they are right and you are wrong. So you make a concession, then you make another, then if you make still another concession, we will be that much closer to a solution. And of course, they do not consider themselves to honor any of their part of the agreement, because after all, they are right and you are wrong.