My military experience.

So I took matters into my own hand and walked up to my commanding officer.
"Sir, with all due respect ... what the HELL did you just do!?!?!"

He turned to me with pity in his eyes and asked me what I meant.

I was shocked ..

"You just gave away ... EVERYTHING ... to the enemy. Our biggest military secrets, knowledge of our most powerful weapons, access codes to our defenses, where we're weakest, what we can't defend against, everything! We're helpless, defenseless, completely open to attack. We have nothing left in reserve - no men, no secrets bases NOTHING!"

His eyes never wavered - the pity in them only grew.

"Son, " he said, "there will come a time in your life when you will understand that not every encounter is a battle, and that not every battle is a war. What I did today was lay the foundation for a partnership, a partnership between two powers that, when complete, will strengthen both."

He put one arm around my shoulders, the other gesturing to the horizon, indicating a brilliant new world to come.

"Sometimes you have to give in a little. You have to take the first step, show some weakness, hell throw down all your defenses and refuse to strike back even when presented with an open target"

"But ..."

"But how do you know you won't get hurt? Trust. Do you understand?"

I shook my head "no" but before I could complete the motion, I felt the arm around my shoulder shift and my C.O. threw me to the ground with a resounding thud.

"Son, there will come a time in your life when you will understand. God knows it took me long enough. But, until then ... you'd better DAMN well learn some manners!"