A year ago I was honored to become a member of the inaugural class of the Aspen Institute/Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership program. This non-partisan educational program is for men and women, holding elective office at the state, local and federal levels. The class focuses on the ethics and responsibilities of public leadership and the study of democratic values.

As part of the program, the foundation took us to the Middle East to talk with diplomats and business leaders, to observe life, and to walk through historically significant buildings located in Egypt, Israel and Jordan. We had private meetings and dinners with the US Ambassador to Egypt, the former Secretary-General to the United Nations, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, two former prime ministers to Jordan, and the Israeli Deputy Minister of Defense, Dr. Efraim Sneh. We also met with the current Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Former Prime Minister, Shimon Peres.

We saw remarkable sights including King Tut masks, preserved mummies for famous Egyptian kings, including Ramses II, the pyramids, Sphinx 8 and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We also saw joyful sights such as a wedding party parade in the streets of Jaffa, Israel. It was led by a band and more than 200 people carried balloons and had decorated the newlyweds' car with ribbons. There are also Western influences all over the Middle East. From billboards advertising Papa Johns, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut, to a favorite television show of theirs, "Friends," the Western world has a large presence in this region of the world.

Our escorts were armed guards and we were required to pass through countless metal detectors. We heard from journalists and others who had spoken out against their Egyptian governments and were arrested for trying to speak their minds. In Israel, we were told that men and women could not pray together and that women must keep their heads covered while praying. We watched as the Jordanian Parliament was in session discussing proposed laws and smoking in the chamber! In so many ways, it was a completely different world from what we are used to.

Each city and country we visited, considering how close they are to each other geographically, was extraordinarily different. Cairo, Egypt, the largest city in the region with 17 million people, was complete chaos. Four cars drove down three-lane streets, construction and trash was everywhere, all making for a busy life-style. Whereas in Amman, Jordan, the city was very clean and most of the cities buildings were constructed with white limestone, which makes for a very striking sight!

During our eight days traveling from city to city what kept coming to my mind, was regardless of who is right or wrong, or more right or more wrong, was that most of the countries in the Middle East set blame for problems in the region on the shoulders of outsiders, rather than looking inward at their own political problems and governmental issues. In fact, they look to the United States as the world leader and believe that we must play the leading role in helping to solve the problems plaguing the region.

Compounding their current issues is the absence of real leadership in many of the countries. The US is viewed by these countries to lack effective leadership, but consider this information. Egypt has no successor. The Palestinian Authority has suffered since Arafat's death. Israel has a government with approval ratings in single digits. Only Jordan seemed to have a strong leader but he is a king who rules and reigns. And at the end of the day, Jordan isn't that big of a player. The countries who are dominating the region (Saudi Arabia and Iran) both have strong leaders.

It was an amazing educational opportunity and one I feel quite fortunate to have experienced. I am certain that the diplomacy, contacts, knowledge and skills I gained during this week-long trip will serve the citizens of Kansas and the United States well.