Israel refused even to negotiate with the Hamas led Palestinian government, trying to squeeze it financially and make it capitulate.

It has played this role with Italy and Spain, but it has met stiff opposition internally and may capitulate soon.

I still recall the difficulty that I faced, as South Korea s foreign minister, in convincing Bush administration policymakers to negotiate with North Korea instead of merely applying pressure and waiting for the North to capitulate.

It is instructive to consider whether those who suggest that a country like Iran would capitulate over the freezing of some bank accounts would themselves give in to the sort of coercion posed by sanctions.