Consider the long war, a bold concept embraced a few years ago to describe the continuing struggle against terrorism, the grudging progress that could realistically be achieved, and the enormous financial burden that it would impose for years to come. It was also a realpolitik acknowledgement of the setbacks to be expected along the way (the slog, as then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld put it).

In reality, everyone is gearing up behind the scenes for a Copenhagen 2, and what those involved in the negotiations are calling an even greater slog. Even if some sort of communiqué is cobbled together in December and countries with elections coming up, such as the United Kingdom, will push for one it is hard to believe that it will contain sufficient detail or reflect the proper level of commitment to have the impact so desperately needed.