It will take exactly one serious incident perpetrated by a handful of highly determined nutcases to bring whatever comes out of this conference down like a house of cards.

I do hope the security around the Academy and the hotels is very tight!

just a thought but it might help pay for the war effort.

I'm not sure what the alternatives are, though.

Pretty much my point. We're going to support some oppressive regimes and make some enemies by doing it. We need to confront that reality squarely.

The Sauds are a case in point. We support them because the alternative is much worse. Why does that translate into ease of access to visas for all citizens of the KSA?

There's an old proverb that covers my opinion: he who sups with the devil should use a long spoon.

Presumably that would be the Camp David Accords and the subsequent Egypt-Israeli Peace Treaty.

Yup.

Our portion of that agreement is currently referred to as “support for oppressive regimes”, isn't it?

By some, I suppose. Not much doubt that Egypt is less than the ideal Jeffersonian democracy, to be sure. I'm not sure what the alternatives are, though.

I can only think of one

Presumably that would be the Camp David Accords and the subsequent Egypt-Israeli Peace Treaty. Our portion of that agreement is currently referred to as “support for oppressive regimes”, isn't it?

It will take exactly one serious incident perpetrated by a handful of highly determined nutcases to bring whatever comes out of this conference down like a house of cards.

Could well be. I just don't see much in the way of alternatives save doing nothing. But there aren't many examples of long-lasting peace accords in this dispute. Indeed, offhand, I can only think of one.

It will take exactly one serious incident perpetrated by a handful of highly determined nutcases to bring whatever comes out of this conference down like a house of cards.