Karen Hughes, the long-time confidante of President George W. Bush tasked with improving America’s image abroad, spent the first day of her life in the Middle East yesterday learning why her government is so unpopular.

Sworn in this month as the new under secretary for public diplomacy – a high-profile position beset by past mis-steps – Mrs Hughes said she came to listen and learn but she was also relentlessly on-message at her first port of call in Cairo.