This blog post was published under the 2015 to 2024 Conservative government

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Peter Millett

Ambassador to Libya, Tripoli

Part of UK in Libya

4th April 2016 Tripoli, Libya

Better Bend than Break

What is better?  To bend and survive or to break and fail?  This question is central to the concept of compromise.

No one can expect to get everything they want.  Winning feels good, but is not always possible.  In all aspects of life, finding the middle ground is often the most sensible and pragmatic way forward. Compromise makes marriages happy and nations great.

Family life is a partnership.  What shall we watch?  The football, the soap opera or the cartoons? Maybe we can let the children catch the cartoons now, see the repeat of the soap this evening and watch the football on YouTube later.

In our social life, shall we go to a film or a restaurant?  Maybe we’ll go to the cinema tonight and take in a restaurant next week.

And in the office, the boss demands a report by tonight, one of the clients hasn’t paid the bill and HQ is demanding a spreadsheet that isn’t nearly ready.  Something has to give way.  Someone will have to compromise.

The same is true in political life, whether domestic or international.  It is said that politics is the art of compromise, or even that the art of negotiation is letting someone else get your way.  But anyone who adopts a zero-sum mentality to negotiation risks being left with nothing.

Kill or be killed is not a mature way to do business.  Sharing, partnership and conciliation is a better way to get results.  If you’ve been demanding the whole loaf but risk ending up with no loaf, maybe half a loaf will do for now.

Compromise is not a dirty word.  Nor is it a sign of weakness, indeed it can often be a sign of courage.  It should not mean surrendering personal convictions or fundamental national interests.  As long as a person preserves their core values, give-and-take can often be the best way to make progress on a thorny issue.

Take the troubles in Northern Ireland.  One side wanted to remain in the United Kingdom; the other wanted a united Ireland.  Over 30 years 3,500 people were killed and 47,000 injured in sectarian violence.  Eventually leaders realised that they were not going to get their way and reached a deal Peace has brought security, stability and huge economic benefits.

The statesmen who negotiated the deal stuck to their principles but found a way to work together for the greater good of their citizens.

Is this relevant to Libya today?  Certainly.  Those who want to preserve their hold on power should see that their citizens are suffering: the economy is a mess, prices are rising and the country is going bankrupt.  Meanwhile Daesh have shown that they can spread their criminal, murderous activity and threaten lives.

The greater good of Libya lies in compromise: a government of national unity that can mend the divisions of the country, bring security to citizens, regenerate oil production and tackle Daesh.

Most people simply want to have the dignity of feeding their families but are unable to do so in the current crisis.  Libyans deserve better after overthrowing Qadhafi.  They will only achieve security and stability if their leaders are prepared to compromise.

Some people might lose out in the short-term.  But the Presidency Council, now in place in Tripoli, and the Government of National Accord can only be in place for 1 maybe 2 years. Those not in power can gather their strengths and prepare for the next elections.

Libyans have a choice: back the Government of National Accord or face more terrorism and economic meltdown.  In these circumstances, the choice between compromise and continuing chaos is clear.  It is up to the Libyan people to decide.

In these circumstances, it is surely better to bend than to break.

6 comments on “Better Bend than Break

  1. Whenever I try to post on your blog, it comes up with an error message. Just wanted to say what a great blog post.

  2. Mr. Millett,
    Simply, the article is great.

    Eng. Ivan RADOVANOVIC
    Project Manager
    Evergreen Consulting

  3. the question that a wise libyan man may ask why u are insisting on opposing such a goverment and giving a new mandate to tobrouk group who the worst history even seen. a compromise solution in ur view >we rather break then bend if solution is the only feasible solution. it seems to me the choas in the is Uk product

  4. i was not supprised by what said in artical. it showed ur are aim to destory the arabic spring. keeping a blend eye on what the retired general doing in the 2nd biggest city in libya > the role of your country is limited as spoiled not as peace maker. i advice u to take of ur falling apart country . your shameful action by making us suffer by pull out ur embassy and closing oil field by not make bowdown . you win bottle and u will lose the war. finally u will go ur caves as rat after ur country fall apart, GOD willing

  5. Vast Majority of Libyans selected their choice. They want the GNA to start immediately and solve all difficulties faced the people. The remaining oppositions need some guarantees that not to be followed or not to remove the individual gains that they have got from them. I believe with continuing of dialogue the compromise will be completely achieved with support of UN EU and USA.

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About Peter Millett

Peter arrived in Tunis on 23 June 2015 to take up his post as Ambassador to Libya. Previously he was British Ambassador to Jordan from February 2011 to June 2015. He was High Commissioner to…

Peter arrived in Tunis on 23 June 2015 to take up his post as
Ambassador to Libya.
Previously he was British Ambassador to Jordan from February 2011 to June 2015.
He was High Commissioner to Cyprus from 2005 – 2010.
He was Director of Security in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
from 2002-2005, dealing with all aspects of security for British
diplomatic missions overseas.
From 1997-2001 he served as Deputy Head of Mission in Athens.
From 1993-96 Mr Millett was Head of Personnel Policy in the FCO.
From 1989-93 he held the post of First Secretary (Energy) in the UK
Representative Office to the European Union in Brussels, representing
the UK on all energy and nuclear issues.
From 1981-1985 he served as Second Secretary (Political) in Doha.
Peter was born in 1955 in London.  He is married to June Millett and
has three daughters, born in 1984, 1987 and 1991.  
His interests include his family, tennis and travel.