Somewhere in my Middle East journal, I said that the Arab Old Guard was awfully relaxed, even cocky — struttin’ around, completely secure. The likes of Amr Moussa — secretary-general-for-life of the Arab League — were extremely worried about five years ago. The winds of change — democratic change — were blowing through the Middle East. You could feel it. The Old Guard was rattled, almost panicky. You could hear it in their speech, and see it in their walk. The ground was cracking under their feet.

But, in recent years, the threat of change has ebbed. They are riding high — or so it seems. I was very interested to read a letter from a reader — a mildly rebukeful letter, and possibly right:

I suspect Louis XVI felt the same way until close to the end. I am also reminded of the movie The Last Emperor. How many of these Arab leaders know how hated they are? A conflagration may be coming. I doubt they are that comfortable. The attitude of many Middle Eastern elites seems to me an acting job. I wish I knew what they think they know, and what they worry they don’t know.

I will ponder . . .