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In 1997, I took part in an international conference hosted by an Arab country and organized by an American institute with global political interests. There, I had the chance to meet distinguished American and Arab thinkers, officials, journalists, and strategic experts. The conference covered various topics related to governance, democracy, and globalization.
There were several noteworthy interventions. I recall the remarks of Paul Wolfowitz, who would go on to become an “architect” of the Iraq invasion during his tenure as US deputy secretary of defense, and those of the brilliant American journalist and author Thomas Friedman. For their part, Arab intellectuals and academics made important contributions that enriched discussions, though they did not necessarily bridge the deep gap of “mistrust” between Washington and the Arab world.
In any case, I was especially struck by something Friedman said. He noted that he was often surprised, during his conversations with Arab politicians and intellectuals, by how “enchanted” they had been by the titles of American diplomats and envoys they had met. Friedman added that they would quote and recall every word those diplomats and envoys uttered as though it were gospel, a supreme will that could not be challenged.
