A hidden truism is that cowardice leads to more cowardice. In the long run they've only subscribed to a system where they will face even more opportunity for more and more punishment.

If they had broke the cycle straight away and said no we wont bow to threats or intimidation they wouldn't be in the situation now where punishment will become inescapable because now all that happens is everyone will punish them to get them to do what they want and each side will punish them more and more to compete with the other side until all journalists, academics, scientists, etc are genocided.

Scientists really can't be all that clever if they can't see obvious patterns like that.

A hidden truism is that cowardice leads to more cowardice. In the long run they've only subscribed to a system where they will face even more opportunity for more and more punishment.

If they had broke the cycle straight away and said no we wont bow to threats or intimidation they wouldn't be in the situation now where punishment will become inescapable because now all the happens is everyone will punish them to get them to do what they want and each side will punish them more and more to compete with the other side until all journalists, academics, scientists, etc are genocided.

Scientists really can't be all that clever if they can't see obvious patterns like that.