The Intimidation Cycle

I look at how hard people try to combat fear with fear --

• X is afraid of Y, so 
• X tries to make Y afraid of them in return, and 
• X escalates to make sure Y is the more afraid, so 

• Y cranks up the intimidation even more, because
• Y can't let X win.
• Y says "X needs to fear US!", so 

• (repeat paragraph)...

I wonder, how long will we keep doing this?

And I'm told: as long as the other guys are winning.

Breaking the cycle is possible, but you can bet that when it ends, it won't be because one side won.