If September 11, 2001 is identified as the date of terrorism, then September 15, 2008 represents the date of the global financial crisis when Lehman Brothers collapsed, dragging with it the world economy. Until that date, the date of economic terrorism not the other kind of terrorism, I have become good at converting the greenback into the sterling and vice versa, of course depending on whether there was money to convert! But as the crisis worsened, I embarked on reading economic news. I subscribed to the London Financial Times and started surfing the Wall Street Journal online. Consequently, I claim to have better economic knowledge than the Israeli charlatans who pretend expertise in terrorism. In the past, national or global economies would flounder, driving banks to the abyss. But recently, the wrecked banks have dragged the global economy to a bottomless pit. For this reason, I was surprised, during the World Economic Forum, to listen to global bankers - they who got us in this trouble - lecture on the reasons behind the crisis and the approach to salvaging our economies. Compared to bankers, used cars salesmen and real estate agents appear nowadays as highly credible. During a luncheon for bankers, I said candidly that I was there for the food, uninterested in getting any advice about business or the salad dressing. Bankers aside, the Dead Sea meeting remains very important. The World Economic Forum comes second after the United Nations General Assembly, in its ability to attract heads of states as well as intellectual and business leaders from all countries. I attended a business meeting then a lunch hosted by the group of eleven, an idea proposed by King Abdullah II to help middle-to-low income countries have their voices heard in international forums. I had the opportunity of meeting Jordan's Prime Minister, Nader Al-Dhahabi. I was distracted from the economy; however, by Sri Lanka's president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who declared victory over the Tamil Tigers. The Jordanian monarch also hosted a luncheon for the heads of delegations. I almost offered everything that was in my pocket to the poor among them. I have much news, mostly garnered in private meetings. I may leak some of them without attributing them to anyone in particular. The Dead Sea conference presented me with the opportunity to attend a private dinner with the Arab League Secretary General, Amr Moussa, and former prime minister and Jordanian speaker, Taher Al-Masri. I was more of a listener than a speaker in my attempt to collect information. In the meeting with the Secretary-General and Dr. Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, I heard ideas, information and suggestions on what can be said to President Barack Obama and what can be done to facilitate his mission. Then, I followed up this issue with Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Minister of Foreign Affairs. I was also pleased to meet two old friends, Nasser Joudeh, the new Foreign Minister of Jordan, and Nasser Lozi, the Royal Court chief. The latter is renowned for his sociability, just like the mayor who knows all people. I jokingly proposed to introduce him to people around. I have other news from a private meeting with Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jaber, Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who asks as many questions as he answers, and with Gamal Mubarak, with whom I reviewed the situation from Gaza to Iran. Meanwhile, I read a comprehensive book on “The Signs of Judgment Day” by Mr. Yousef Bin Abdullah Al-Dabel. I will not go into details here because I want to go back to the book's material and compare it with the eschatology of Christian Zionists in George Bush's constituency. The author gave 57 minor signs that have already appeared and ended. Then he moved on to the Major Signs, those that appeared and the others that are yet to appear. I want to add my own sign: Judgment day is coming no doubt, when a journalist like me who sells words feels pity for a banker who trades in hard currency. In conclusion, I can not but recall the words of the Andalusian poet when the Jewish tax collector was at the door of his house: Tell the antichrist this is time of your coming!
