The Negotiator

When I first saw E3 and Kenobi was called "The Negotiator", I assumed it was because of his skills of diplomacy and that he must've done some good negotiating during the course of the Clone Wars.

But then I was watching E2 a few days ago and noticed Anakin talking about "aggressive negotiations" here and there through the movie. Since the saga likes to reflect on itself (such as how Kenobi in E2 keeps chastising Anaking for losing his lightsaber; and then in E3 we see Cody telling Kenobi "you dropped this again" concerning his saber), was Kenobi actually called "The Negotiator" because he was in a lot of "aggressive negotiations" (i.e. lightsaber battles) during the Clone Wars?

What do you think? Has it ever been commented on? Already discussed? Old news?

 

Yep.

Keep the Seps occupied, until the Clones arrive.

That's text-book "Aggressive Negotiations".

 

Now that I think about it, it's probably pretty obvious, eh? Went totally by me until a few days ago.

 

Obi-wan is known for his ability to resolve matters through negotiations. Its his way which he learned from Qui-gon. Obi-wan's most infamous negotiations were at Ansion and later on Ord Cestus. However, the agressive negotiation does come up from time to time, which is unavoidable.

 

Obi-wan is known for his ability to resolve matters through negotiations.

But in the movies, we dont see him negotiate squat.

 

Those were agressive negotiations.

 

See, but I'm thinking Lucas' intent when he wrote "the Negotiator" in the script was that Kenobi got that title not because of his word-diplomacy skills, but because of his ability to "negotiate" with the lightsaber. Like in the Fifth Element when the bad guys have taken the bridge of that ship, and Bruce Willis is outside and they say, "We're sending in someone to negotiate" and the he steps around the corner and blasts the guy in the head and the little guy goes, "W..w..where did he learn to negotiate like that?"

I was just watching TPM yesterday, and the first time we see Kenobi, he's involved in negotiations with the TF. The negotiations end up in a lightsaber combat. "The negotiations were short" said Kenobi.

Then in AOTC Skywalker is talking about how they went into "aggressive negotiations" i.e. "negotiations with a lightsaber". So, by ROTS, Kenobi has earned the title "The Negotiator" meaning, he's the guy they send in to get things done. So, as soon as they find out Greivous is on Utapau "send Kenobi", "send the Negotiator".

The EU might say it was because of his word-diplomacy, but I figure they just took the title at face value, but Lucas had a different kind of negotiator in mind when he gave him the title.

 

I always like to think of Kenobi as a negotiator and diplomat, but I have to admit that Kenobi negotiates about as much as Judge Dredd does.

 

Well I think that's why the term "aggressive negotiations" was brought up. To clarify that there are negotiations and then there are aggressive negotiations and Obi-Wan is a Negotiator, not an Agressive Negotiator.

 

I think there are different meanings.

Aggressive negotiations means to take a tough stance on a subject.

But, to simple negotiations mean your just checking out what's going on and where the other side is at. As far as what they want or need.

 

I agree that Kenobi was not portrayed as being a negotiator. However he always sounds like he could or should be when he talks and guides Anakin. It fits even though you don't see it.

 

It's funny how we are not shown any of this 'negotiating'. In fact, when Grievous calls him 'the negotiator' at the beginning of ROTS on the Invisible Hand, the comment is practically dripping with sarcasm...

 

There are other definitions of the word "Negotiate" :


Main Entry: ne·go·ti·ate
Pronunciation: ni-'gO-shE-"At, ÷-sE-
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -at·ed; -at·ing
Etymology: Latin negotiatus, past participle of negotiari to carry on business, from negotium business, from neg- not + otium leisure -- more at NEGATE
intransitive verb : to confer with another so as to arrive at the settlement of some matter
transitive verb
1 a : to deal with (some matter or affair that requires ability for its successful handling) : MANAGE b : to arrange for or bring about through conference, discussion, and compromise <negotiate a treaty>
2 a : to transfer (as a bill of exchange) to another by delivery or endorsement b : to convert into cash or the equivalent value <negotiate a check>
3 a : to successfully travel along or over <negotiate a turn> b : COMPLETE, ACCOMPLISH <negotiate the trip in two hours>


Maybe Obi-Wan just likes to cash checks.

 

Maybe he learned some horse-trading skills when he was hanging on Tatooine with Qui-Gon and has a reputation for driving a hard bargain when bartering for sack-like brown ponchos. Somebody had to take over the business now that Watto's gone, you know.

In response to the actual topic of the thread, I think it could very easily be either one. Maybe some of both. It does seem a bit odd that Obi-Wan should have acquired a name for himself as a negotiator, though, since that's supposed to be what the entire Jedi order does. The entire Clone Wars were an aberration.

 

the original poster is correct.

The nickname "the negotiator" is a lark, it's a comedy and i think it's meant to be.

They'd have called him the diplomat if it wasn't meant to be comical.

I have absolutely no doubt that the audience is supposed to believe that Kenobi finds ways to solve things without fighting quite often and i would not be suprised if he solves things that way over half the time time.

However the audience never gets to see any of that.

From what the audience sees Kenobi could be wearing a T-shirt under his robe that says "It's always easier to negotiate a peace treaty after all your enemies are dead."

If you go strictly by what the audience sees on film then Kenobi solves his problems with his saber arm so to speak, not exactly the great negotiator, but on the other hand he's definately a great aggressive negotiator.

 

Oh I dunno. He let Grievous make the first move.
He also talked to Anakin before resorting to the saber.
He also tried to negotiate Anakin's location out of Padme.
It was there, just not very prominant.

 

HAHAHA

did you notice that when "negotiating" failed with those 3 they all wound up dead or chopped and Bar-B-Qued?

it's starting to seem to me that calling him the negotiator is akin to calling the Terminator robot "the peacemaker".

i'm just kidding but it is funny that a character who would clearly rather talk to people an work out his situation without violence always has to resort to violence in the films.

 

HAHAHA

did you notice that when "negotiating" failed with those 3 they all wound up dead or chopped and Bar-B-Qued?

...

...

Obi-Wan isn't good at what he does

 

Obi-Wan introduces us in ROTJ to the "certain point of view" way of looking at galactic history. This certainly sounds like a seasoned negotiator to me.

Interesting the Palaptine uses a similar phrase when telling Anakin in ROTS that truth depends upon "one's point of view." Spoken like a true politician.

Interesting also that Anakin seems drawn to the negotiator/politician types -- Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Padme and Palpatine -- drawn like a moth to the flame(s)!!!

Back on topic -- Obi-Wan is very protocol wary, and is a savvy communicator. As others have mentioned already, negotations sometimes fail at the protocol stage and thus need to enter a more aggressive stage in order for them to bear fruit. I concur that this is, quite frankly, where our Jedi hero gracefully excels. He does have a way with words though. In AOTC he gets the information he needs from Dex, Jocasta Nu and finally the Geonosians. His actions are pivotal toward halting Dooku's progress and eventually identifying the covert Clone production.

 

you see, that's *after* all his aggressive negotiating got him nowhere.

if he knew anything about anything, his negotiations wouldn't fail so spectacularly.

so, allow me to soundly disagree here.

and on a side note: what info does he get from jocasta nu which he can process? about the arrogance of the jedi?

 

I never really thought about it. I thought Grevious was being arrogant as if to say, I've got Palpatine, Skywalker, and Kenobi in my grip now and now it's time to negotiate something but not being Obi-Wan is known for his diplomacy.

 

I know the title The Negotiator pops up during the EU. My question is: was it Lucas who told the EU writers to include the nickname, or was it an EU author who came up with it and Lucas liked it so much he included it in ROTS?

 

Kenobi was a wonderful negotiator. He negotiated repeatedly with federation battle droids. then he had a complicated negotiation with darth maul.

Years later he successfully negotiated with zam wessel's hand. and then he had a stimulating negotiation with jango fett. Once, when dealing with an Acklay, his power to resolve disputes was clearly demonstrated. And he was instrumental in peace talks with Count Dooku on Geonosis.

After the great success with Dooku on Geonosis, Kenobi was sent in to again negotiate with the Count on the Invisible Hand. Due to his overwhelming success with separatist leadership, he was selected to negotiate with General Grievous who finally saw things Kenobi's way when his eyes exploded out of his skull after having his organs repeatedly negotiated with a blaster.

Kenobi then negotiated his way by the clones and into the jedi temple and was later highly successful in a complex negotiation with darth vader.

Kenobi would prove in his old age to still have that great ability to settle disputes, even bar room brawls, with great ease. Unfortunately he eventually met his end and one of the galaxy's great negotiators was lost.

 

I believe it's the former. In AOTC, Mace talks about Obi-wan and Anakin going off to handle a boarder dispute on Ansion. Which they just got back from. Before AOTC came out, "The Approaching Storm" showed us that story. Obi-wan and Luminara Unduli were in charge of the negotiations on Ansion. Despite the best efforts of the Soregg the Hutt and Shu Mai to stop them, the Jedi kept Ansion in the Republic. So the title is, in the films at least, based in part on that. When the Clone Wars novels got started, author Steven Barnes did "The Cestus Deception" which featured Obi-wan and Kit Fisto going to Ord Cestus to negotiate it's continuted membership and support for the Republic. Negotiations were involved there, but Obi-wan was not called the Great Negotiator until at least "Labryinth Of Evil". Though James Luceno, who wrote the lead-in book got that most likely from Matthew Stover, who wrote the novelization. Luceno and Stover conversed and that's how he was able to learn enough to set up the book for the film and novelization.