"Realism" is the shorthand for a policy that overlooks tyranny and oppression for short-term political gain. It was the watchword through much of the Cold War.

"Realism" today involves treating Iran and Syria as though they were seriously interested in a peaceful, free Iraq rather than being instrumental in assisting our enemies in Iraq, including supplying training, funding, personnel, and armaments. The last thing on Earth Syria and Iran want to see is a successful, democratic Iraq.

People proposing this current form of realism are hallucinating.

"Appeasement" is self-explanatory. See also "Danegeld," or "Munich Agreement," among others. Nobody ever won an ongoing war by "talking to the enemy."

You are welcome to come up with fuzzy euphemisms that sound better, if you like. The Democratic Party has a lot of good ones for "unconditional surrender."