"Qatar already has sizable commitments in Europe, and part of their strategy involves politics and part of it involves escalation of commitment, particularly in what they believe are bargains," said Yazan Abdeen, a fund manager at ING Investment Management in Dubai.
Mr. Mayer passed (ostensibly because the role demanded a sizable time commitment), so producers held a casting call.
The firm, which has announced its first close with a sizable $200 million commitment, focuses on investments in energy, food, agriculture, health, education, and sustainable manufacturing.
But the Army also has sizable troop commitments elsewhere, including Afghanistan, the Balkans and the Korean peninsula, so the unexpectedly large requirements in Iraq have taxed the Army and its support personnel in the Army Reserve and National Guard.
Most Western leaders agree that if any country can make good on this continent's elusive promise, it will be South Africa, with its stable government, sizable economy and commitment to uplifting its people.
But the lenders have sizable deal-related commitments on their books, a particularly worrisome matter for investment banks whose total business is smaller than that of leading money center banks like JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup.
Mr. Bush's relative inexperience in foreign affairs and his commitment to a sizable missile defense system has provoked concern in European capitals.
