Economics needs to be viewed as a dynamic in its own right, not just a function of political and social issues. Money is not enough. Structural and governance reforms are just as critical. Connect structural reforms to communities. Create context for public investment. Framework s for investing. Jordan is on the edge. They are starting some reforms. Policy counts, not just money. Country and people must own the effort. While we see Egypt and KSA (Saudi) as the big problems, if they aren’t interested in reform, we should spend our energy and resources in smaller countries who are ready and hope they provide role models when dynamics of Egypt and KSA are more ripe. Syria: Should the US intervene? TJP summary. There was a remarkable consensus that the US should intervene in Syria. Many on both sides of the aisle supported the Hadley formulation (see below). Questions of how to intervene varied somewhat, but few said we should not actively intervene in the Syrian situation. Under discussed were two critical issues. First, WMD. Syria has huge stores of chemical and bio weapons and they are very widely distributed. Having these fall into hands of terrorists could ruin our day. Do we have the knowledge, strategy and will to secure these? Second, post Assad Syria is going to be a mess. It will require a serious peace keeping force. Who is going to provide that force? Post script: inspite of the broad consensus that the US must act, the private conversation was that we would not act. It is unclear to me why this is the case, but several people (Dems and Repubs who had spoken in favor of action) said they didn’t think it was in the cards. Richard Falkenrath: The US has the power to depose a very bad guy — Assad. Should we do that? Proposition: Don’t do it because: 1. We have a strategy and its working. BS. It is a failed strategy. 2. Is there a reasonable prospect of success if we decide to depose — yes. 3. The costs are acceptable — yes 4. Dono harm. That would be at ris