Clinton yesterday had intelligent things to say, but they were delivered very flatly. Summers and Albright, however, were very good over questions. They both acknowledged that much of the world is concerned about US domination, but they categorically denied any kind of American imperialism. Cooperation and coalition were the hallmarks. He gave what was probably the speech of the meeting, and his answers to totally unscripted questions from the floor were sincere and eloquent.
Some people wish for peace for our children and their children.
This is not enough. I wish I could say the same about the Russian plenary that followed. I was relieved that they stuck to their time limits, since three of the four panelists had turned up with 20 minute speeches, instead of the six minutes for remarks that we had allotted. But it was profoundly boring. The visit of a president does many things, prime among them generating reams of media coverage.