A lesson for Mr Cameron and other would-be negotiators

The return of UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, from the European Council in Brussels empty-handed, raises serious questions about his competency as a negotiator. British diplomat, and former Downing Street Chief of Staff under Tony Blair, Jonathan Powell, appearing on BBC’s Newsnight, accused Cameron of either incompetence or deliberately going for failure.  The Economist reports the assessment of “a well-placed source” who was certain that [failure]was not Mr Cameron’s goal.

So here is a lesson for Mr Cameron and, with a little interpretation by the reader, a lesson for other would-be negotiators. Continue reading →