You can't negotiate in public. People won't make concessions in public. They will do that in private. Like sausage making, you have to do it behind closed doors. Jonathan Powell closeconcessiondoor Change image and share on social
It was the rootlessness that went with being the son of an RAF officer that shaped me. I had been to 11 schools by the time I was 9. Jonathan Powell officerrafrootlessness Change image and share on social
Northern Ireland still suffers from its past, and it will take generations to escape sectarianism and for violence to end totally. Nonetheless, it is in a different place now than during the Troubles, and it will not go back to the old days. Jonathan Powell backdayend share on social
Terrorism seems to be the ugly twin of democracy. We need to learn to live with it because we are vulnerable to it. Jonathan Powell democracylearnlive Change image and share on social
I'm a solid Labour party supporter. I aspired to be a Labour MP, but it's difficult to make the leap from the Foreign Office. Jonathan Powell aspiredifficultforeign Change image and share on social
Politicians do not enter into wars lightly. It is usually the military themselves who are keener to become involved. Jonathan Powell enterinvolvekeen Change image and share on social
If there is a political cause, then there has to be a political solution. Jonathan Powell politicalsolution Change image and share on social
Since the beginning of time, we have expected our leaders to be supermen, unlike mere mortals. We want them to be much greater than us so that we can look up to them. Jonathan Powell beginexpectgreat Change image and share on social
You should never appease terrorists. The mistake made by critics of the 'talking to your enemy' approach is to equate talking with appeasing. Jonathan Powell appeaseapproachcritic Change image and share on social
There is no conflict in the world that cannot be solved. Jonathan Powell conflictsolveworld Change image and share on social
