[quote name='Spybreak8']Hmmm I always found that paying other nations wasn't profitable because its like a huge amount of money for such a little time span but now I understand why you'd want to fork over loads of currency. I find the best strategy is to go for bombers, they're pretty much unstoppable and make a few fighter wings for support.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I hate spending money on the AI too but it's neccassry. If they are building an army and attacking, then they aren't building wonders or researching tech at high levels. Also, some civs like Japan flourish too well when left alone for long periods of time (if I don't do something about Japan, they often are about to win tech victories around 1800).
I'm scared of bombers. I'm dead serious when I say that unless I'm way ahead, the AI always has some fighter jet waiting to take down a bomber, even when it first appears in the city so I shy away from them.
One exploit I love using is building catapults w/defenders and parking them about two spaces away from the border of an enemy city. If the computer sends a settlers unit the catapults will crush the defense and you can take it. Often times I just make peace with the AI fast, it's even better if they just want peace for no tech or gold because then I could just declare war again if they send another settlers unit out in a few turns. What's funny is that the AI will often still send more settlers out as long as there is no other city in the area. Your helping your civilization grow while slowing down the progress of another.