Dawn Of A New Era

Jordan's King of nearly a half-century had always been both a fatalist and an optimist. So after six months of unsuccessful treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hussein bin Talal abruptly anointed as successor a little-known son, Abdullah, who promised the failing monarch "to follow in your footsteps."

When a final effort to abate his cancer failed last week, the King came home. On Saturday, Abdullah was sworn in as regent with full governing authority. And on Sunday, as the kingdom mingled fears with prayers, Hussein died, leaving Jordanians to confront a future without the only ruler most of them have ever...