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.
