The King of Jordan is learning Arabic; his mother should be very proud of him. The King of Jordan has been taking private Arabic lessons, and he still speaks Arabic with difficulty and an accent, and yet the Jordanian media want to remind readers that this is the true heir of Muhammad, as the claimant of descent from the tribe of Quraysh. In a recent interview with the Arabiyya TV, the King even quoted a classical Arabic proverb. It goes as this: Ahlu Makka Adra Bi Shi`abiha (The people of Mecca are best in judging the affairs of their tribes). But the King, said: Ahlu Makka Adra Bi Sha`biha (the last word is a very different word but the esteemed King must have never heard of the word Shi`ab--his private lessons have not gone that far). Furthermore, the King is the worst example (worse than `Arafat) of somebody who says one thing in Arabic and anther thing in English. I dare say that he never gives an interview in English without having to issue its denial in Arabic. But Thomas Friedman adores him. That should matter.