Replying here to Janet's comments on the BRMB about Randa Habib's book *Hussein and Abdullah*:

"Yes, I agree that she is a bit of an apologist for King Hussein, I don’t know whether that is out of loyalty to a friend, out of fear"

I'm almost certain it is the former. She was clearly very close to His late Majesty and everything she says about both him and his son needs to be seen through that lens.

"At least during King Hussein’s reign, Jordan seemed to be on the road (a very long road mind you!) towards anything resembling a democracy."

I disagree. At one point King Hussein dissolved parliament and did not recall it until faced with a potential uprising 22 years later. Even in Ms. Habib's book, it is clear that he did not really try to move toward genuine constitutional monarchy until he was literally on his deathbed.

"Now it seems, the Hashemites took a look at the road signs ahead, did a u-turn and are now racing back to where Jordan was in the 60s and 70s."

I'm not sure this is entirely the case. King Abdullah - whom I am never shy to criticize - at least seems to understand that "instant democracy," as the US imposed on Iraq and Afghanistan, and was then tried in Egypt and many other places, does not work if the ground has not been laid by the building of civil society. The King has said numerous times that he wants a political culture in which elections will be based on political parties and not tribal allegiance. The problem is that I don't know that he knows how to do that. His other major problem is that his father left it too long and it may now be too late. He reminds me of the 18th century European "enlightened despots" like Frederick the Great, Josef II and Catherine the Great - a liberal ruler trying to impose western modernity on his people against their will.

"I also think King Hussein and his brother were more canny than the current rulers and convinced the West that they really did want a more liberal, democratic Jordan, the West just had to give it time, I can appreciate how anyone could be convinced by that, after all democracy is a process, its not going to happen over night."

I agree. King Hussein was a master at playing the Arab Nationalist at home and the liberal democrat abroad. (And, I would note, he accomplished many great things by doing so!) The current King and Queen are less adept at this. The Queen has certainly charmed the western media, but she seems to have something of a Marie Antoinette reputation at home.

"I don’t think King Abdullah is able to do that anymore and let’s be blunt; the West really doesn’t care anymore what happens within Jordan, provided Jordan can stand and protect itself and act as a buffer zone, it gets a free rein."

This is true. The only reason the regime has lasted this long is that the US and Israel feel a vital interest in preventing it from being taken over by Islamists or collapsing like Iraq and Syria. Canny western diplomats, however, must surely recognize that liberalization of Jordan is the only long-term (or perhaps even medium-term) way to ensure that.

Thank you, Janet, for your personal insights into Jordan at the end of your BRMB post. I agree with all of the sentiments you express there, and I do hope to visit Jordan someday. The closest I have gotten is peering across the Jordan river at it from the West Bank, but it fascinates me and is definitely on my list!