THERE SHE GOES AGAIN. My eagle eyes are always scouring the Web for mentions of unlikely reformer Queen Nour, absolute monarch of Jordan, who seems to be in Aspen:
Secretary Albright was to discuss “The Changing Middle East” with the Jordanian, Egyptian, and Israeli ambassadors to the United States, with Queen Noor sitting beside the Jordanian ambassador. Dov Zakheim, the former CFO and Under Secretary of Defense, moderated.
That’s right — American and Israeli officials plan to bring reform to the Middle East in partnership with the dictators of the two local American client states who, in exchange for American cash, have agreed to extend diplomatic recognition to Israel. Frankly, I’m baffled as to why so many Arabs view U.S. foreign policy as imperialist. Someone tell the public diplomacy office! Note that, as per Secretary Albright‘s high-profile role in this particular farce, removing the Bush administration from office is unlikely to fundamentally alter the dynamic here.
–Matthew Yglesias
