Every time we meet a new terrorist group, we argue they are utterly different and we can learn nothing from the last time. Of course they are different, but some lessons on how we deal with them seem to apply in all cases. Jonathan Powell applyarguecase share on social
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
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
If there is a political cause, then there has to be a political solution. Jonathan Powell politicalsolution Change image and share on social
I do not think that war is always wrong: sometimes it is necessary to stop a dictator, prevent massive human-rights abuses, or expel an invader. But I have also seen that in the modern world, civil wars are the greatest threat to humanitarian security. Jonathan Powell abusecivildictator 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
