Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt -

 Is it just me or do these government representatives seem to act more like High Schoolers than diplomats? Perhaps its the media making a bigger deal of these "chance encounters" than they really are, but if you listen to the media (and I rarely do take it at face value), everyone at this conference for Iraq's stabilization is running around like it's the High School Prom:

 "U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said handshakes were exchanged and the two sides did speak briefly on the need to stabilize Iraq. But he described the meeting as more of an encounter that lasted about three minutes.

"This was not a date," Crocker said, adding that the meeting ended with him saying, "have a nice day." - Foxs News

 Likewise, from the highest level diplomats, Coni Rice and Manno Mattaki:

 "After lunch, Egypt's Aboul Gheit told the Associated Press he would try to arrange a further informal meeting between Rice and Mottaki at a gala dinner being thrown by the Egyptians Thursday night on the beach of a nearby resort hotel.

"Why not?" Aboul Gheit said. "It is only one table." But asked if he would seat Rice and Mottaki next to each other, he said, "No, no."

As it turned out, Mottaki's place was set directly across the table from Rice. When Mottaki's delegation entered the dinner and saw the arrangement, they seemed displeased, said a U.S. official who accompanied Rice. Mottaki immediately told his hosts that he had to excuse himself because of the violinist was "scantily clad," the official said.

Mottaki complained that the Egyptian female violinist playing nearby was too revealingly dressed, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, also because the dinner was a closed affair." - Fox News

 Honestly, what is wrong with these people? I realize this has happened throughout history, it just seems to me that at some point SOMEONE will say "Enough!" and just put their cards on the table. How does anyone ever expect to accomplish anything if they just sit around and play games throughout the whole affair?

 ~Dubya