Cameron in Eqypt

Watching David Cameron visiting Egypt recently and then going on to Kuwait etc. put me in mind of watching the opera 'Nixon in China' on a direct feed from the New York Met (didn't like the music but a fascinating story and libretto). Nixon's visit, at the height of the Cold War, though well intentioned, was a failure. This was largely because there was a complete mismatch of cultures. While mao wanted to talk philosophy, Nixon was interested in trade and geo politics. Pat Nixon behaved like a tourist but did not have any of the reference points to understand Chinese culture.
I therefore wondered how much understanding Cameron can possibly have of the current state of North Africa and the Middle East. Above all, can his conception of liberal democracy have any meaning for states which have never experienced it and which have underdeveloped civil societies. Furthermore these societies are imbued, to a great or lesser extent, with their own versions of Islamic value systems which are bound to inform the final political settlements that they will ultimately achieve (one hopes).

A clue as to Cameron and his advisers' naivety lies in his choice of travelling companions. The appearance of arms salesmen can send only one message - that we are not really especially interested in your political future as long as you will trade with us. What possessed him to despoil his visit in this way ? The timing certainly looks good, but the message has an unpleasant odour. Furthermore, it may well be that protesters in these countries are actually being killed and maimed with British-made weapons. This suspicion will be lost on those who will populate the new regimes. Protesting that 'promises and undertakings ' will be sought to ensure the weapons will not be used for internal political control is meaningless. By their very nature, autocratic regimes do not tell the truth and do not honour their undertakings - that is why they are autocratic regimes.

Nixon had Kissinger with him so at least he probably understood why his visit failed. Where is Cameron's Kissinger ?