Decision

And then if we do this, then they will do that.

How do you know they will do that? Have they ever done that in the past or given any indication that they will do it in the future?

Well, we don't really know, but we believe that if we show good faith, then they will do so.

But you have no evidence of that. You are operating on the belief they will do so. And there is no solid evidence of them wanting to do so.

True, but we are factoring in how we would respond to such conduct.

So let me get this straight. Your belief doesn't even rise to the level of an educated guess because there is no precedent of it ever succeeding nor is there any evidence that it will. And you are assuming that the other side will behave the way you would if you were in their shoes despite the evidence that you are not dealing with some tweed-jacketed characters from the faculty lounge but instead with a bunch of ruthless streetfighters who would cut your throat and then joke about it over dinner.

I suppose you could put it that way if you wanted to be skeptical. I think they'd blink.