Victor Davis Hanson, in a generally unhopeful article, adds this:

"I spent recent days recovering from emergency surgery for a perforated appendix in a Red Crescent clinic in Libya. I owe a great debt to the skill and confidence of a general surgeon, Dr. Ayoub, who was roused at 3 A.M., and saved me from a great deal worse, along with Dr. al Hafez who offered his medical expertise and care that allowed me to get back to California. Throughout all this, I did not experience a shred of anti-Americanism, but instead real kindness from Libyans from all walks of life. There is sometimes perhaps hurt and confusion over America's intentions - but also grudging acknowledgement that for the first time in memory there is real hope for something different, something far better in the future of the Middle East."

VDH has always impressed me with his twinned and linked ability to see the humanity in all of those he writes about, without losing his deep historical perpective or his fidelity to reality as he sees and understands it. You can see this in his writings, and even in books like Mexifornia. That's why he's someone I follow closely, and try in my own small way to emulate and learn from. That's also why Dr. Ayoub and Dr. Hafez have peformed a great service for us all. Thank you, gentlemen.

UPDATE: Here a transcript and MP3 of VDH's radio interview about the whole episode.