[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$ft5xZjPN9Qmro50ZZPRK6iaWyr3uiZ8x-4hjrJPB97Vw":3,"$f_6cU-rcVy0bhhDwlsqzl5w8iGURGQq-j41S52z_o-M4":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"bio_jsonld":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},113867,"Jon Alterman","J",16,null,"jon-alterman",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":123},[14,27,38,49,60,71,82,95,101,112],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":9},919388,"He (Abbas) didn't come away with a whole lot and he's looking at elections in January and he can't be too pleased,",4,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[22],{"id":23,"tag":24},3922197,{"id":25,"tag_name":26},3664,"elections",{"id":28,"quote_text":29,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":30,"source":31,"quote_tag":32,"commentary":9},919381,"I don't see why anyone thinks this is going to be resolved any time soon. The U.N. will be managing this issue for years.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[33],{"id":34,"tag":35},3922191,{"id":36,"tag_name":37},12821,"anyone",{"id":39,"quote_text":40,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":41,"source":42,"quote_tag":43,"commentary":9},919376,"In real terms, all U.S. policy likely comes down to now is making sure the violence in Gaza does not spill over.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[44],{"id":45,"tag":46},3922186,{"id":47,"tag_name":48},24677,"gaza",{"id":50,"quote_text":51,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":52,"source":53,"quote_tag":54,"commentary":9},919369,"There was a sense the president was on another planet. What the president has done in the last week or so is be much more frank about challenges without diluting his optimism. ... It puts him back in the debate.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[55],{"id":56,"tag":57},3922180,{"id":58,"tag_name":59},2433,"challenges",{"id":61,"quote_text":62,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":63,"source":64,"quote_tag":65,"commentary":9},919356,"It's significant in that it changes the atmosphere. It creates opportunities to build confidence.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[66],{"id":67,"tag":68},3922168,{"id":69,"tag_name":70},11473,"build",{"id":72,"quote_text":73,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":74,"source":75,"quote_tag":76,"commentary":9},919351,"It's a lot of excellent, well-meaning people who have an impossible job to do, ... There's no way they can make both sides happy when they're done with their investigation and filing their report.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[77],{"id":78,"tag":79},3922160,{"id":80,"tag_name":81},12154,"both",{"id":83,"quote_text":84,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":85,"author":86,"source":87,"quote_tag":88,"commentary":94},919338,"It's a 12-step program. The first step is to admit you have a problem. They still have 11 steps to go.",true,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[89],{"id":90,"tag":91},3922154,{"id":92,"tag_name":93},29683,"admit","**The Backstory**\n\nThis quote is attributed to Jon Alterman, a well-known expert on Middle Eastern politics and director of the Middle East Program at CSIS. The context in which he made this statement was likely during a time of great turmoil in the region, possibly referencing the complex dynamics between the US and various Middle Eastern countries. Given his area of expertise, it's possible that Alterman was commenting on the challenges faced by diplomats or policymakers navigating these intricate relationships.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nWhat lies beneath the surface of this quote is a commentary on the inherent complexity of problems in international relations or organizational management. The \"12-step program\" represents a typical framework for addressing complex issues, but Alterman's remark highlights that simply acknowledging the problem (the first step) is merely the beginning, and there are many more intricate steps to take before resolution can be achieved. This reflects a profound insight into human and organizational psychology: that understanding and solving complex problems requires not just recognition of the issue, but also an appreciation for its multi-layered nature.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nIn applying this mindset today, modern professionals or creatives should recognize that acknowledging the problem is merely the starting point. True progress in addressing complex issues demands a deep dive into their multifaceted nature, requiring patience and a strategic approach that considers all aspects of the challenge at hand.",{"id":96,"quote_text":97,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":98,"source":99,"quote_tag":100,"commentary":9},919330,"The roadmap is inoperative and nothing has replaced it.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":102,"quote_text":103,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":104,"source":105,"quote_tag":106,"commentary":9},919322,"This was totally unprecedented - a live interchange with no questions given in advance.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[107],{"id":108,"tag":109},3922133,{"id":110,"tag_name":111},6600,"given",{"id":113,"quote_text":114,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":115,"source":116,"quote_tag":117,"commentary":9},919306,"There hasn't been a 'peace process' for some time, and I don't see any signs there's going to be one resuming.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[118],{"id":119,"tag":120},3922117,{"id":121,"tag_name":122},14365,"signs",{"currentPage":124,"totalPages":125,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":126},1,2,10]