 An American embassy official in Jordan remarked that during a discussion with Abu Nuwar, the latter "out-Nassered Nasser".He was regarded as an "ultranationalist" by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).According to historian Ivan Pearson, American diplomatic and intelligence views were colored by the negative perceptions of Abu Nuwar in Israel and Abu Nuwar's role in the dismissal of Prime Minister Samir al-Rifai in May; Rifai was seen by the Israelis as a counterbalance to Hussein's Arab nationalist advisers, and Abu Nuwar maneuvered to sideline Rifai soon after Glubb's dismissal.