The title of the article on the Doha summit is 'Syrians in the Sheraton; a lesson in time wasting', a rather pithy commentary - with some odd asides:http://www.opendemocracy.net/michael...n-time-wasting

So what can we read from this whole saga? The short answer is that the SNC are being side-lined, and they know it, and this is why they played for time. The Riad Seif initiative was a threat to their previous hegemonic control over the Syrian opposition, and they have fought for every inch they can to maintain as much of a foothold as possible in the new plan. Backed heavily by Qatar and the USA, the SNI is the only realistic plan forward at this current point. It brings together military personnel with politicians and other exiles to try and forge a coalition that can speak for Syria’s beleaguered people.
Behind all the "spin" and diplomacy the fact remains that the USA does not want to get involved in the Syrian civil war. The Assad regime is hanging on.