They must have not paid Very much attention in history because as earth learned from mustache man some people cannot be reasoned with and you sometimes have to go kick their teeth in

I wonder if the books have explored that more. But yes. Clearly the UFP is conflict averse. They would rather appease and buy time. Which ultimately created the Maquis and their supporters again as Sisko points out. Beaurocracy thought the Cardassians would settle down. Arguably it worked...