[Fedora]

Interesting. It certainly takes more than a "Teach Yourself Arabic" crash course to qualify as an authentic Arabist, and Wilson mentions on p. 76 of Politics of Truth that he had "no experience" in the Middle East when he went to Baghdad, in contrast to Glaspie whom he describes in these terms: "by contrast, she was one of our most experienced and knowledgeable Arabists. She had served in most of the Arab capitals and in key jobs at the State Department. Widely acclaimed as one of the best of her generation, April Glaspie understood all the issues and knew all the players very, very well." Hmmm--perhaps if Wilson was the translator and he didn't speak Arabic that would explain why Glaspie and Saddam's communications broke down, LOL. In that case I wonder what led Sa'adoon Al-Zubaydi to praise Wilson's Arabic? Another thing I notice is that according to Al-Zubaydi's account Glaspie didn't know enough not to expose the soles of her feet to someone in an Arab country. I'm not an Arabist and even I know that's considered rude. Either Glaspie wasn't such a great Arabist after all, or Al-Zubaydi is trying to make her look bad for some reason--but curiously, in the same breath he speaks well of Wilson.

On a related note, in Wilson's book and lectures (e.g. Politics of Truth, 100), when speaking on the subject of Glaspie he also often describes a conversation he allegedly had with Tariq Aziz's former assistant Nizar Hamdun (now deceased) wherein Hamdun reportedly exonerated Glaspie's performance during the Gulf Crisis. It seems like several former members of Saddam's regime had opinions to venture on the subject of Glaspie and Wilson.

[kabar]

In that case I wonder what led Sa'adoon Al-Zubaydi to praise Wilson's Arabic?

I wonder as well. Just a sop to someone who tried to learn a few pharases? Or did he wish to praise Wilson publicly for some other reason to ingratiate himself? In any event, most of these meetings with a head of state like Saddam include an American notetaker who usually speaks the language. Glaspie wouldn't have needed a translator per se, but she would have been wise to have one whom she could trust.

Another thing I notice is that according to Al-Zubaydi's account Glaspie didn't know enough not to expose the soles of her feet to someone in an Arab country. I'm not an Arabist and even I know that's considered rude. Either Glaspie wasn't such a great Arabist after all, or Al-Zubaydi is trying to make her look bad for some reason--but curiously, in the same breath he speaks well of Wilson.

The feet business is overdone. I can remember going to a meeting with a Saudi official for the first time, and he proceeded to show me the soles of his feet. Many of these officials are Westernized and not offended or concerned by these so-called no-nos.

On a related note, in Wilson's book and lectures (e.g. Politics of Truth, 100), when speaking on the subject of Glaspie he also often describes a conversation he allegedly had with Tariq Aziz's former assistant Nizar Hamdun (now deceased) wherein Hamdun reportedly exonerated Glaspie's performance during the Gulf Crisis.

Glaspie took the fall, but it wouldn't surprise me that Wilson was involved. Glaspie did not respond strong enough to Saddam's contention that Kuwait was part of Iraq. The massing of Iraqi troops on the border was an indication of something happening. It is interesting to note that the Saudi Embassy in Kuwait closed down the day before the invasion.

April Glaspie