'Heavy Hand of the Secret Police Impeding Reform in Arab World'

article by NEIL MacFARQUHAR here.

In Jordan and across the region, those seeking democratic reform say the central role of each country's secret police force, with its stealthy, octopuslike reach, is one of the biggest impediments. In the decades since World War II, as military leaders and monarchs smothered democratic life, the security agencies have become a law unto themselves.