Behind the scenes at the nuclear summit

Here at the Washington Convention Center, where the 47-nation Nuclear Security Summit is taking place, there are definitely two classes of attendees.

In the main hallways and the first floor briefing rooms, any credentialed attendee can wander around and interact with press and delegates from all over the world. But everywhere you go, massive blue curtains stop lower-level personnel (like your humble Cable guy) from getting to the areas where the really important people are.

Behind the blue walls, mostly on the second floor of the convention center, VIPs like presidents and their photographers hang out, kibbitz among themselves, and eat what we presume is a higher quality of food.

There are all sorts of interesting interactions happening in those secret areas. One of our sources with a high level of security clearance sends along this photo, which shows French President Nicolas Sarkozy making a point with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Doesn’t seem like he was pressing him to support Iran sanctions, but you never know…