The death of Hussein has many implications little mentioned in the press. His funeral received extraordinary coverage on world TV. Mexican TV devoted a whole news program to it, interrupted only by the usual crazy commercials. No thing is sacred!

This proves the importance of geography. If Menem of Argentina died, the response would be minor because Argentina, a major country, is a dagger pointed at the heart of Antartica, while tiny Jordan is the focal point of world tensions.

Sovietologists have been ridiculed for Kremlin watching, but they were right. The photographs were very revealing of political symbolism. That Yeltsin, who goes to the Kremlin only about twice a month, bestirred himself to lead a large delegation to Amman, while Clinton rounded up several ex-Presidents, symbolized, as did the composition of other delegations, the importance of the fragile kingdom.

It is fashionable also to dismiss the importance of culture and langauge in international affairs. Yet, while the new king has the strong support of the Bedouins, his poor knowledge of classical Arabic was mentioned by his rivals. This is similar to the situation in Greece, where there is a sharp debate over Demotic versus classical Greek.

Religion popped up in quaint ways. Clinton, whose personal life has absorbed Washington for months, said in his eulogy that Hussein was now in Paradise; the presidential powers in the U.S. constitution do not include that divine right. Hussein's four wives, innumerable affairs and illegitimate children would seem to give Clinton prior claim to admission to the eternal realm. Women wept inconsolately in Amman, but not even the feminine members of his family were allowed to attend the funeral.

Ronald Hilton - 02/08/99