If Machiavelli were studying the childish stand-off that is holding up the peace process in Northern Ireland he would surely advise a straightforward solution.  The I.R.A. should call the Unionist's bluff.  All they would have to do is hand in the odd cache of Kalashnikovs and a few kilos of Semtex.  A symbolic gesture like that would force the Unionists to accept Sinn Fein into the proposed assembly and.... as "Old Nick" himself might have put it.... Kalashnikovs and Semtex are hardly expensive items, nor difficult to obtain, if they ever need to stock up again on them some time later.

How many of the world's problems could be resolved by the application of a little "Realpolitik"?  For example:  Why the devil doesn't Israel pull out of the West Bank?  It isn't as if they haven't got the muscle to barge back in if they ever felt the need to do so.  It can't be because they fear what world opinion would be if they had to re-take the territory sometime in the future..... Since when has world opinion ever worried an Israeli Government?  So, why do they insist on the two steps forward, one step back, endless negotiations?  A Palestinian State might just turn into a good neighbour for Israel, who knows?... and if not?  Well, send in the tanks again.

Could it be that behind so many conflicts are the "little boys with dangerous toys" whose mentality has not changed since the playground, where backing down, even when it was the obvious course of action, was more painful than getting a bloody nose?  What a pity that the price of these overgrown bullies not losing face is so often thousands of innocent lives. Niccolo Machiavelli, writing in the 16th Century, made his feelings clear on the subject of standing doggedly by your word:
        "The prudent ruler cannot and should not honour his word when it places him at
         a disadvantage and when the reasons for which he made the promise no longer exist"
                                                                                                    "The Prince"

.... I can't top that...... Welcome to Belfast Signore Machiavelli.