"No, Biff. You leave her alone."

First Biff had George do his homework. Then he told him not to come to the soda shop. Then he twisted George's arm when George tried to stop Biff from assaulting Lorraine.

Fast forward, global scale:

"In response to the latest Islamist threat against Spain, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (Partido Socialista Obrero Español - PSOE) thought it appropriate to assure Spaniards that 'Afghanistan is not Iraq.' PSOE officials told news agencies that while the war in Iraq was 'illegal,' the mission in Afghanistan is being supported by the UN and includes 37 countries. It turns out Islamic terrorists don't care all that much about the distinction."

TCS Daily - Spanish Lessons in Appeasement

Bullies don't stop being bullies when you give them what they want. A good wound-up roundhouse to the kisser is what stops them.