Transcript
MR. JAMES B. STEINBERG: We're glad you could all come because it's a very timely opportunity to talk about some of the issues which have been dominating the headlines for the last week.
We have with us today three people who are extraordinarily well qualified to talk about the meeting not only of the events in Akaba and Sharm el-Sheikh over the last several days but also the broader events in the Middle East and in Iraq after the conflict.
Joining us today is Martin Indyk, the Director of the Saban Center and Ken Pollack, the Director of Research at the Saban Center, but I want to take a particular moment to introduce Flynt Leverett who is a Visiting Fellow here at the Saban Center who has had a really extraordinarily distinguished career in government.
As many of you know, most recently from February 2002 to March of 2003 he was Senior Director for Middle East Affairs at the National Security Council, a position held by many other distinguished predecessors including some sitting on the podium, and therefore has unique insights into the approach that the Administration has been taking to the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
Prior to his service on the NSC he was also at the Policy Planning Staff, another august institution of government, and a Senior Analyst at the CIA where again we've had others spend quality time. So as you can see we have a lot of interlocking relations here, but as I say it's a unique opportunity to explore these issues.
We're going to begin with Martin who will talk about the meeting in Akaba, both what it means and the way forward. Then Flynt will talk about the broader Middle East and political dynamic following the Sharm el-Sheikh meeting and finally Ken will turn his attention to his favorite topic which is Iraq.
The full event transcript is available. (PDF—151KB)