Baklava

"The officials are Daniel Shapiro, who oversees Middle East issues at the National Security Council, and Jeffrey D. Feltman, the acting assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs. Mr. Feltman is a former ambassador to Lebanon, while Mr. Shapiro advised the Obama campaign on the region." Feltman had the dubious honor--while serving in Lebanon--as being the only "big country" ambassador who could not speak Arabic. He thought that knowing how to say Baklava is a sign of deep Middle East knowledge.