The game is changing, but to what?

More than a little difficult to sum up today’s Middle East Institute “game changer” conference in a few words, but here’s a try:

1.  Enthusiasm for Arab spring, with lots of uncertainty about both transition and how it will come out in the end.  It is still the first five minutes.  Economic problems loom.

2.  Tunisia could be a hopeful bellwether:  good electoral process, moderate Islamist victory, clear roadmap.

3.  Libya shaky, with militias the big immediate problem but the constitutional framework provides a clear roadmap ahead, if they can stick with it.

4.  But Egypt is the big prize.  Things there are not going well: security shaky, military holding on, electoral process too complicated, liberals fragmented, Muslim Brotherhood strong, economy weak.

5.  Revolution likely to succeed sooner or later in Syria, but possible high cost (civil war) and high payoff (depriving Iran of an important ally).  Arab League moves do make a difference.

6.  Also like to succeed in Bahrain and Yemen, but cost may also be high there.

7.  Little hope to revive the Israel/Palestine peace process before the U.S. presidential elections, though Dan Kurtzer argued strongly for a bold U.S. initiative to define parameters.

8.  Iran is gaining in Iraq and Afghanistan, but losing in Syria and the Arab world generally, as Turkey and smaller Arab monarchies gain but Saudis do not. 

9.  Israel, facing many uncertainties, hopes for preservation of the status quo but navigates when need be.

10. Lots of change, but overall outcome not yet clear.

These are obviously only my impressionistic highlights.  I’ll be glad if others chime in.