He is ignorant of Arabic because he does not "meet local girls"

"You have to speak the local language if you want to meet local girls. That incentive doesn't really exist in a Muslim country. This is why the Marines stationed in Cairo told me they hate it so much—it's very hard to meet local girls."  There is one good thing about following the Middle East in the West: every time you think you read dumb analysis, you then read a dumber analysis.  (thanks Micah)