The cynical among us might call this a stalling tactic, or more foot dragging.  I’d call it an essential first step.  On Friday, the following press release was released by the Obama administration:

my own opinions on things we should try, but getting all our ideas on the table for discussion is a good first step.  I just hope these discussions aren’t like the recent town-hall meetings on health care reform, where only the loudest are heard.  While HIV treatment activists have done a good job of learning and promoting science-based policies, the same can’t be said for many of our prevention activists.  I, for one, will be listening closely to our boring epidemiologists and scientists with long track records in HIV prevention research.