Funferal

Diplomacy 101

This should be obvious: when you want to persuade someone to change their mind and do what you propose, you should avoid humiliating them as much as possible. Its one of the most straightforward and basic rules: let them back down gracefully. If you really want to get them to do action X, make this as easy as possible for them.
So why, I have to ask, has the UK made a public apology on television by Saddam Hussein one of their six ‘key demands’. Now they say they might compromise on this and ‘merely’ demand a statement in Arabic, admiting he has been in non-compliance with a range of resolutions since 1991. I see little to be gained from the statement, and putting it as a central demand ensures that Saddam will not comply. Of course, it is possible that this is the point….