11. PERISH IN THE PROCESS. BECAUSE THE MAJOR POWERS DARE NOT FIGHT EACH OTHER, MUCH OF THE DISCIPLINARY EFFECT THAT WAR OR THE THREAT OF WAR HAD IN DIPLOMACY HAS BEEN LOST, FREED FROM THE FEAR OF MILITARY RETALIATION AND ARMED WITH A STRONG BARGAINING POSITION, LITTLE NATIONS ARE READY TO RISK THE IRE OF MIGHTY MILITARY POWERS BY TEARING UP UNILATERALLY VALID AGREEMENTS AND REWRITING INTERNATIONAL LAW, CONFISCATING PROPERTY WITHOUT FAIR COMPENSATION, AND DICTATING THE PRICES AND TERMS UPON WHICH THEIR RESOURCES WILL BE ALLOWED TO FLOW INTO INTERNATIONAL TRADE WHERE THEIR PRESENCE IS VITAL FOR THE ECONOMIES OF THE INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS, THIS IS A DANGEROUS GAME THAT MAY TEST THE QUALITIES OF STATESMANSHIP OF ALL THE PLAYERS. IF YESTERDAY'S GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY FELL SOMEWHERE BETWEEN ARMED ROBBERY AND EXTORTION, TODAY'S IRRESPONSIBLE ACTIONS ON THE PART OF THE SUPPLYING NATIONS MAY BE CONSIDERED AS FALLING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN RANSOM AND EMBEZZLEMENT. THE WORLD BADLY NEEDS A WAY OF KEEPING THE PEACE AND KEEPING THE BARGAIN.