http://middleeast.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/04/02/on-arab-summits/ The official Web log for Great Decisions 2007 Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:18:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.0 http://middleeast.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/04/02/on-arab-summits/#comment-952 Wed, 28 May 2008 22:58:07 +0000 http://middleeast.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/04/02/on-arab-summits/#comment-952 [...] I’m somewhat sceptical.  [...] […] I’m somewhat sceptical.  […]

]]> http://middleeast.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/04/02/on-arab-summits/#comment-896 Mon, 12 May 2008 22:05:09 +0000 http://middleeast.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/04/02/on-arab-summits/#comment-896 [...] I’m somewhat sceptical.  [...] […] I’m somewhat sceptical.  […]

]]> http://middleeast.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/04/02/on-arab-summits/#comment-740 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:38:17 +0000 http://middleeast.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/04/02/on-arab-summits/#comment-740 Really, how is this any different from any political "meeting," like Bush meeting with the Black Caucus or something? Everybody gets to posture and pose for pictures and nothing meaningful gets said or done. There's an odd combo of too much pressure and too low expectations for meetings like this summit. There's a reason some of the best deals in this region have all been hashed out behind closed doors. The only way anything is going to change is if there's a major paradigm shift, a'la the economic boom in Ireland. Otherwise, everybody at the table has too much invested in the status quo. Really, how is this any different from any political “meeting,” like Bush meeting with the Black Caucus or something? Everybody gets to posture and pose for pictures and nothing meaningful gets said or done.
There’s an odd combo of too much pressure and too low expectations for meetings like this summit. There’s a reason some of the best deals in this region have all been hashed out behind closed doors. The only way anything is going to change is if there’s a major paradigm shift, a’la the economic boom in Ireland. Otherwise, everybody at the table has too much invested in the status quo.

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