Lectures & Excursion July 16

July 16th began with Arabic lesson and lectures on USAID assistance in Jordan and a youth and women's program. USAID assistance is governed by priorities set Washington. It also is not very efficient because it requires that items and purchases be made through U.S. companies. This results in a U.S. company getting the funds who in turn hires Jordanians to do work. The U.S. company then is an overhead cost as a middle man. In contrast money sent to Israel has no strings attached as to what are the priorties. Israel can use the money to strengthen the Israeli companies and the Israeli economy directly. The difference on this issue may be explained by a recent article by John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n06/mear01_.html.

In the afternoon, we visited the University of Balqaa in Salt. They showed us an impressive display of Arab and Islamic art.

This is a huge reproduction of a beautiful piece from a Jerusleum mosque that had been destroyed by fire. The picture does not do it justice in terms of scale or detailed work. It is put together without any fasteners or glue.