Another Jordanian is being taken to court on charges of, literally, "extending his tongue" against the royal family." (In Arabic extending one's tongue is an expression that means "badmouthing"). I of course have no sympathy for the person in question: `Adnan Abu `Awdah was a loyal servant of the regime and propagandized for King Husayn during Black September. Abu `Awdah was hoping to be a key adviser to King `Abdullah and ultimately wanted to be prime minister. When he was sidelined and ignored, Abu `Awdah suddenly discovered the Jordanian discrimination against Palestinians. Imagine if the repressive regime of Jordan was not a client of the US; I can imagine the US official and media statements about violations of human rights.