KING ABDULLAH seems everywhere in this country, his kingdom, if only in pictures: His portrait hangs in grand buildings and humble shops; often it is accompanied by a portrait of his late father, King Hussein. The young monarch is on the front pages of newspapers and on the covers of magazines. You will not be shocked to hear that coverage of him is overwhelmingly positive. But, in fairness, there is much to be positive about. Jordan is on the rise, and Abdullah is its symbol: dynamic, sharp, modern, optimistic, forward-looking. The queen, Rania, is a symbol, too. I have described her as a fairy-tale queen, and so she is: A more photographable consort would be hard to imagine. But she is also a civic leader, and even an Arab leader. Recently, she told a gathering of women from the region, “You are some of the Arab world’s finest ambassadors. As you go about your daily meetings, your international phone calls, and your global travel, you are dispelling myths, correcting misperceptions, and showcasing the multifaceted realities of Arab women.” She added, “Of course, many of the old obstacles still exist, and I do not want to pretend otherwise. We have a long way to go in changing cultural mindsets; in convincing society that we can be wives, mothers, and career women; in promoting gender-friendly legislation; in getting more women into parliament and decision-making roles; and in keeping girls in the workforce after university.” King Abdullah speaks the language of openness, transparency, reform. (Incidentally, he is not to be confused with the Abdullah who rules a neighboring state: Saudi Arabia.) It is clear that he wants Jordan to be an Arab tiger, and the road leading to the country’s latest international conference is dotted with a sign:
Established Rule of Law
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