when the Parthians routed Crassus

that loss so distracted the Romans that foreign policy dictated domestic policy and thus set up the conditions for the end of the Republic. As for Australia, we have to make sure that vengeance does not override the goal of reasonable security. If we gain our security through losing our values, whom does this profit? The Romans so valued their Republic that they fought a civil war - a war that need not have been fought were it not that irrational foreign policy over the Parthians distracted the Senate which CHOSE to avenge itself over PERCEIVED humiliation.