>the combatants are pawns in a game of 'how quickly can we skyrocket the prices
This maybe true, but by adhering to this policy would demonstrate that our top brass are not of that type. It is a win win situation for all players and there is no downside because it would prove where the nefarious intentions are.
We have to do our job to best of our abilities regardless of how others do their job. There maybe some serious violence within our own boarders, our Navy is basically a sitting target. This would take away the argument of all national and international aggressors and stop genocide. No downsides. After this gesture any form of aggression will not only be warranted by the US but justified.