From Jordan

So this is my second writing and I am having trouble knowing what to say so I thought I may just give you quotes from various officials that are indicative of this trip. We have met with people from various government positions and also the opposition. We have also been fortunate to meet with many opposition leaders…actually I call them opposition because our government has chosen not to talk to them. Which after having the opportunity to hear from seems a most unfortunate stance. It is hard to work out issues when you refuse to listen.

One thing that was really clear….the status of the US has grown so much with the election of Obama. It is interesting how “proud” so many are of the US for showing democracy can and does work. That was a universal we heard from so many in the ME.

Which gets me to something everyone has said, both our government and the various gov’t officials we have spoken to and the leaders of the opposition. Although they are universally so happy there will be a change in the administration in Washington, they try to keep their expectations down since they realize the financial problems and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are priorities for the U.S. It is without exception though that they say the Palestine and Israeli is a priority for any stability in this region.


So when asked what they would like to see as far as changes in U.S. policy…comments like:

“We are disappointed toward the US policy of the Middle East (ME). We refuse to see this as a religious problem between the US and ME, they are political problems.”

“The problem is double standards between US policy. Your unlimited support of Israel and no implementation of the UN resolutions by force as you have in Iraq and Iran but never toward Israel. (Which someone mentioned has had many resolutions that have been passed they have not
followed and have not been made to follow).

Does Obama want to implement international resolutions without discrimination?

So the visit to Lebanon show so much growth…but over and over we heard people comment, yes we will build with the knowledge that it may be gone in 6 hours….there is no guarantee it will be allowed to last.

In Syria, the country is raw from our recent attacks. Meeting the US embassy staff in Syria was
very interesting. Seem very committed and actually liked the country.

In Jordan, we met the 2nd in command and he seemed pretty uninterested in the country or the real problems we heard about from Jordanians….but the political counselor had only been there 5 weeks and she seemed quite committed to creating a good co-operative working environment between US and Jordan.

Jordan itself is very new….very clean and very well organized.
I am going to try to add a picture….but that may not happen!

Hope you are all doing well…we have some financial people on the trip who are following the stock market and groaning a lot!! By the way the headline on the Egyptian paper re: the election was: A dream come true!! With a big picture of Obama!
The group is sending its first press release with the title: Citizen diplomats seize the mantle of Obama’s to meet with anyone. American citizens meet with Hamas and Hezbollah. Let me know if it actually is printed!!

Love you,
b/z/m/s