does anyone know of any strategy or even an exploit were the player can get two AI civs to go to war with each other? i find too many civs have the 'we couldnt betray our friends' option way too common and i would really like to know if anyone has a way to get around it.

If the two civs that you want to war are the same religion and you are another religion, crank out the missionaries and flood one of the civs with your religion. If either one of the founded the religion, then flood the other one with missionaries.

It won't guarantee the option of declaring war, but it is usually a good start.

If one civ has a vassel, sometimes you can get another civ to attack the vassel. Then the two civs you wanted to fight are at it, even though he said he wouldnt attack his friend.

Another thing is making them break trade relations. That gives -points.