Good Cop - Bad Cop

The good cop, bad cop routine can be effective in persuading people to do what you want. However, it is not so effective if you try bad cop, bad cop or bad cop, idiot cop!

Grand Old Duke of York Posturing In/Around North Korea

At some stage the posturing by various parties in and around North Korea will reach the Grand Old Duke of York phase, wherein "assets" will have to be "marched down" again.

Advice To Presidents

It's not the first 100 days that are important, but the state the you leave the country in when you leave office!

Signals As a Form of Diplomacy

Signals can be a very effective tool within the diplomatic bag. However, it is wise to remember two things:

1 The recipient may misinterpret or over react to the signals, and

2 The signaller must be careful not to box himself in, in the event the recipient ignores the signals.

Doubling Down

Doubling down only works if you have greater resources (health, arms, time and money) than the "house" against which you are doubling down.

Happy St George's Day!

Bluffs

Bluffs in poker are not terribly effective, and indeed are counter-productive, if they are outed before the final hand!

Diplomacy

You know that diplomacy has hit rock bottom, when phrases such as "don't mess with us" are used.

Gunboat Diplomacy

Gunboat diplomacy is only really effective if your gunboat actually turns up in the area you wish to pressurise!

Advice To Starbucks

Redesign your vans!

Happy Easter

Face

Beware small countries run by small men who value face more than their lives.

Cornered Rats

Cornered rats fight back.

The Dangers of Misspeaking

At times of international crisis a few miss-chosen words, or no words at all, can lead to catastrophe.

Experts Are Their Own Worst Enemy

Self appointed "experts" and talking heads are invariably wrong at predicting the timing of certain events.

For why?

Because they open their mouths in public, thereby giving those who are in charge of certain events the opportunity and motivation to wrong foot them!

Yeehaw As A Tool of Diplomacy

It appears that shouting Yeehaw with guns blazing is now the main tool of international diplomacy.