I love that Omar Sharif bit from Memri. First, it’s a bit tough to take lectures from an Arab about the typical ignorance of Americans. I think Americans are woefully under-educated when it comes to all sorts of things, but given the huge problems with illiteracy in the Middle East, his native Egypt included, he’d be well-advised not to play those games. Last I checked, Americans weren’t clamoring to go to Arab schools in order to make a good living. But I also love the idea that an international jet-setter and former champion bridge player likes to have his conflicts settled by the local sheik. I’d love to know the last time that happened.