I don't think the Maggie Thatcher analogy is quite correct but otherwise a great post.
While she, Ronald Reagan, and even JFK (especially during the Cuban Missile crisis) DID issue ultimatums, flat stops, and a lot of bluster from time to time, they DID negotiate....just doing things behind the scenes and people did benefit. Even though Kruschev did lose face, substantial amounts of tactical nukes were quietly removed from US satellite nations (as well as the US sweeping under the rug a shootdown of a U-2 overflying Cuba and taking no action about it) as part of a deal made in the face of a crisis. And the world averted nuclear war by some folks coming to their senses.
Although they might find it immensely unpalatable, true leaders recognize that some things in life are, and need to be, give and take. My way or the highway might work in the very short term, but never works in the long run.
We don't even get this; just some form of juvenile arrogant ego trip that would rather sink the ship than see it sail forth smoothly and profitably for all.
Last edited by Shep69; 30th Nov 2014 at 14:21.