Phil, James, as we discovered in Afghanistan, and ought to have
known thoroughly by now, Middle Easterners of the Arabic persuasion
are as dilatory as five-year-olds, and for many of the same
reasons: king o' the world egos, mainly, combined with immaturity.
The only thing they respect -- or respond to -- is utter
ruthlessness. Why do you think they're so often ruled by
dictators? Unless you play the game tough with them, better not to
play it at all. Make nice does not work.