Iraq versus Jordan: MidEast Pains, Coalition Political Gains
Iraq and Jordan have recalled their ambassadors (Reuters). Iraqi protests at the Jordanian embassy are the immediate reason– but the deep reason is Abu Musab al- Zarqawi and his Al Qaeda terrorists. Last month a Jordanian terrorist killed himself and 125 Iraqis in the February 28th bloodbath at Hilla. When Jordanians from a the terrorist’s home-town called the killer “a martyr,” Iraqis erupted.
Reuters:
Iraqi protesters have burned Jordanian flags and broken into the heavily-guarded embassy at least twice since the suicide bombing in Hilla on Feb. 28. They held banners reading “no to terrorism” and called on Arabs to speak out against praise of suicide bombers.
As the Reuters report notes, both the Jordanian government and the “alledged” terrorist’s family deny the man committed the crime.
However, But, Yet– no one debates Zarqawi’s nationality. Iraqis are sick and tired of Zarqawi’s and Al Qaeda’s murder and destruction and they want other Arab Muslim countries to take strong action. This hatred for Zarqawi isn’t a new phenomenon — I heard similar comments last summer in Baghdad. Now –after the Iraqi elections– the Iraqi people feel confident enough to demonstrate in the streets. That means they attract cameras– even Al Jazeerah’s.
The demonstrations are another huge political defeat for Al Qaeda. The demonstrations make the point that Al Qaeda kills Arabs, Al Qaeda kills Muslims. Washington fretted -and quite correctly– that the coalition was losing the “information war.” Since January 30th, the Iraqis have been winning that war.
Will Jordan crack down? The Jordanian government is no friend of Al Qaeda. What the Iraqi pressure does, however, is put pressure on Jordanian imams and Al Qaeda sympathizers. “Hey, it’s not New York you attacked, it’s Hilla.” A free, stable Iraq will ignite an economic boom in Jordan, and the Jordanian business community knows this. The last thing the Jordanian government and business establishmentwant to do is anger and alienate the Iraqi electorate. (Yes, electorate– no longer simple “the Iraqi people,” but the Iraqi electorate.)
See this post for a personal statement by a member of the Iraqi electorate, Husayn Uthman. Will The Nation and The Guardian publish it? Okay, I’ll settle for The New York Times.
“Yes, electorate– no longer simple “the Iraqi people,” but the Iraqi electorate.” There is a balm in Gilead.
Comment by Myopist — 3/20/2005 @ 3:13 pm
Is it just me, or ever since the Arab street decided it wanted democracy instead of the jihad we were promised by the media, the phrase “Arab street” has become curiously absent?
Comment by TallDave — 3/20/2005 @ 6:56 pm
Is the whole upside down of the “Arab Street” becoming right side up? I surely hope so. Why would anyone protest for indiscriminant murder as opposed to fair and free elections? I guess someone has an answer to that but, I think people in the west have less and less to hang on to that share that point of view.
Comment by b — 3/20/2005 @ 9:27 pm
Has anyone in the so-called civlised west bothered to ask the “generic” arabs who they are and how they feel? Why do we bother with spin from the west? The US had no right to invade Iraq. Full stop.
Comment by Marilyn — 3/20/2005 @ 11:29 pm
Has anyone in the so-called civlised west bothered to ask the “generic” arabs who they are and how they feel? Why do we bother with spin from the west? The US had no right to invade Iraq. Full stop.
Comment by Marilyn — 3/20/2005 @ 11:31 pm
I read an email from an ex-ASA friend, reporting on a public speech by a returning commanding general in Iraq. American general. And of the many cogent points made in his hour of talking and showing slides, the one germane to THIS thread was his assertion that: “It was a BIG MISTAKE for bin Laden to publicly name al-Zarqawi as his lieutenant! The Iraqis heard the tape, and they took it as what it was: a Saudi naming a Jordanian to kill Iraqis! BIG MISTAKE!”
Comment by Carridine — 3/21/2005 @ 6:49 am
“bothered to ask the “generic” arabs who they are and how they feel?” So what are you suggesting, an election?
Comment by moptop — 3/21/2005 @ 7:36 am
Moptop, Good comment! However, Marilyn is NOT INTELLIGENT enough to understand it. She writes like the Idiot Senator, Barbara Boxer.
Comment by leaddog2 — 3/22/2005 @ 7:07 am
Just noticed this hilarious thing. Austin published a commentary called “Chapter and verse prove why we’re winning in Iraq” in the houston.chron about how situation reports clearly show that the US has Iraq’s insurgency under control. In google news, where this article somehow got modded up..ahem..googlehack, just below is an article about haliburton and the US military being sued for putting truck drivers in harms way. My point…Austin suggests maybe one truck gets hit out of many, this article suggest many trucks in a convoy get hit regularly. Good to know you are so up on events in Iraq there Austin, that was some good PR. Pat yourself on the back for me would ya? POS.
Comment by hhz — 3/26/2005 @ 1:22 am