Alexandra Taggart Oct 14, 2010:

где мечом, где пряником American Army have slaughtered good part of civil population of Iraq, that was called "unavoidable casuatlies of the war". What about the extreme casualties - when Americans tortured the prisoners of the war? Then, I don't think that the author succeded in that which he wanted to say, obviously he is trying to mock American policy of being a "teacher" in Iraq.IMHO, I wouldn't use "a teacher's method" here at all, but translate it literally: "by force and persuasion", or something better.

Mark Berelekhis Oct 14, 2010:

Probably a variation on the theme .

Andrii Ishchenko Oct 14, 2010:

Yes, "политика пряника и кнута" is the right set phrase in Russian. I've never heard of "меча и пряника".

James McVay (asker) Oct 14, 2010:

That exact phrase... ...hasn't been used by many people on the Internet, at least, other than this author. I did find "пряник и кнут" in Multitran when I searched for "carrot and stick."