Just Two Men Talking in a Coffee Shop…


“The Middle East is on fire.” M shakes his head.

I nod while watching yet another new barista as she tries to mix my French soda

“I have my baby in this world. And I worry for her. What type of world is this that she will grow up in?” M asks me; his eyes pleading. He has come to America for a better life. He left his family and native land for a chance at something better. Now, he watches his region go up in flames, live over broadband.

Using Xs as states, M draws a quick map of Middle East on a post-it note. “Here is Iran. Here is Iraq with the British and Americans. Here is Syria. Here is Lebanon. Here is Israel. All on fire.”

“It’s no good. You know Clinton had a peace offer on the table where there would have Palestinian state and Arafat turned it town.”

“No, he was stupid. They will keep fighting, because the whole roadmap is gone. The whole roadmap is destroyed.” M corrects the barista on the way to make my drink.

“Jimmy Carter,” I begin.

“Jimmy Carter will go down in history as a great man,” M interrupts. “He got Israel and Egypt, the two biggest military powers, to peace. That dramatically eased a lot of tension. Now, ever since George Bush became President, he has done nothing. He has sent no envoys. For six years, the whole process is broken down.”

“America should do something.” I sound like a schmuck stating the obvious.

“There are no great leaders anymore. Clinton, Carter.”

“Sadat.”

“Yes, Sadat. Now all we have are idiots: President of Iran an idiot, Prime Minister of Israel an idiot, King of Jordan an idiot, King of Saudi Arabia an idiot, President of America…” M throws up his hands. “We need leaders.”