The Meeting in Amman
IN A PLAIN, UNREMARKABLE CONFERENCE room in a nondescript hotel on a main street in Amman, Jordan, sat the Leader of the Supreme Party. She was in a closed meeting with her top military leaders and other important members of the Party. As the protocol demanded, the Leader sat at the head of an oval table, facing the main door of the room. She was dressed in a Supreme Party uniform and sat straight and motionless. With her six generals dressed in uniforms identical to her own sitting at her sides, she looked around with a stern gaze, leaving no doubt about who was in charge.
Nearly everyone who was expected to attend the meeting had already arrived and taken a seat. There was a palpable feeling of anticipation in the air and an acknowledgement that the business at hand was of tremendous gravity. Everyone gathered in the room knew that a very important action would be undertaken that day, and this action would be critical to strengthening not just the future of nation but also the future of the Party.
The Leader looked at one of the generals sitting on her right side and gave a slight nod. The general, who was in his early sixties, in turn looked at Ammar, a tall man standing near the middle of the table, directly opposite the Leader. Everyone in the room turned to look at Ammar in anticipation. He was a handsome, twenty- five-year-old man with a chiseled nose and grey eyes just like his mother’s. Ammar was the heir apparent who, from his earliest years, was being prepared to become the Leader one day.
The general broke the heavy silence in the room by asking Ammar in a strongly accented voice, “Are you sure about this man?”
“Yes, General,” replied Ammar. “He’s perfect for our needs. He is well trained, devoted to the nation, and he will handle things for us very quietly, just the way we want. He is fluent in English, French, and Spanish, and he has seen the world. This man will fit in amongst the locals easily. I have personally selected him from among many strong candidates for several reasons.”
While explaining the reasons behind his choice, he looked around the table as if addressing all those who were present. The moment his eyes met the Leader’s, he quickly averted his gaze for reasons of hierarchy and decorum, and turned his eyes instead to the general sitting to the left of the Leader.
The mother and son thought differently on matters concerning the working and running of the Party, but they preferred to leave