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| Axis of Evil |
| Jordan to consider request to extend auspices |
| 2003-01-27 |
| Jordanian King Abdallah would favorably consider an American request to extend the auspices of the monarchy over Iraq for a temporary period after the expected U.S.-led attack on Saddam Hussein's regime, if the Americans ask, according to senior political sources participating in the World Ecnomic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "Iraq? For me? Oh, you shouldn't have.." According to the estimates of sources in Davos involved in preparations for the war in Iraq, the realistic scenario is that commanders of Iraqi forces will surrender shortly after the U.S.-led attack begins and will come to American military headquarters waving white flags. Yup! The American government will select from among those commanders the leaders of the interim Iraqi government that will rule the country until a more permanent arrangement is found, the sources added. Sounds like the post-WWII German model. After an interim period of 2-3 years, they said, if the temporary regime in Iraq asks from the Jordanian monarchy to extend its auspices over Iraq, King Abdallah would likely consider the request favorably. Fat chance the Iraqis will ask Jordan to rule them. Who put forward this proposel, King Abdallah ? But Jordanian officials examining U.S. overtures on the matter made clear that Abdallah would need to carefully consider the repercussions such a move would have on Jordan's stability. King Abdallah said Monday that only "a miricle" could prevent a war in Iraq." The sources said that the widely held estimate in the international community is that Israel will try to stay outside the conflict with Iraq. But they believe that if Israel is attacked and its population is seriously harmed, there would probably be an Israeli military response. Probably? According to sources, immediately following the war in Iraq, international pressure will resume on Israel and the Palestinian Authority to reach a stage of preparing for the creation of an independent Palestinian state and a final peace agreement within three years, in accordance with the "road map" proposed by the Quartet - the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia. Immediately following the war in Iraq, there will be no Palestinian Authority |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #11 Fred, you have been prescient to make 'arabia' rather than 'saudi arabia' a category on the site. When the Iraq situation is concluded, we need to pivot into a confrontational posture with the current rulers of the Arabian peninsula. Abdullah is smart to get out in front of this if he can. There is nothing like proven oil reserves to fix an economy in a hurry. He's western educated, and may be planning a charm offensive towards Israel (previous post). Both of these factors have the potential to make him a preferred broker with the US in the region. Throw in some baby steps towards democracy and he could gain Western backing to restore the Hashemites to their former glory, bag a Nobel peace prize for various 'reforms' and become Time Man of the Year for 2004. Recent stories suggest he might just be going for it. Worse things could happen than him succeeding. |
| Posted by: JAB 2003-01-27 18:11:03 |
| #10 Hmmm... We might also note that the family also has a claim to Soddy Arabia. Remember it used to be just Arabia, and the Hashemite family ran things, as far as anybody did - descendants of the Prophet, and all that. In Gulf War I, King Hussein was Sammy's good buddy, probably on the promise of a considerable chunk of the Olde Countrie when the Republican Guard emerged victorious... |
| Posted by: Fred 2003-01-27 16:03:08 |
| #9 " Abdullah of Arabia". Has a ring to it, doesn't it? I'll bet Abdullah thinks so... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-01-27 15:41:34 |
| #8 Arafat is Saddam's man and has only been kept around so as not to make Saddam nervous and give him an itchy trigger finger on those WMD. Once Saddam is gone, Arafat goes too. |
| Posted by: paj 2003-01-27 14:14:51 |
| #7 "Actually, isn't the former monarchy of Iraq shirtail cousins of the jordanian monarchy? " yeah and the pretender who leads the Iraqi Const. Monarchy movement is a distant cousin of the King of Jordam - but until recently the Jordanians had been negative toward the prospect of monarchy in Iraq. I think this is a sign both that the Jordanians take amreican action as virtually certain, and are getting very nervous about the aftermath. The Jordanians are Sunni Arabs, but much more friendly to US interests than the House of Saud. They could play a role like Zahir Shah in Afgan, reconciling the Sunni Arab minority to Kurdish/Shiite dominance. Kurds/ Shiites play the role of the NA, and Saudi plays the role of Pakistan. Iran plays, well, Iran. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-01-27 13:42:27 |
| #6 OK, Fred, Monaco it is. I'd personaly be willing to rule Iraq, provided the European Union gave |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-01-27 13:02:17 |
| #5 "immediately following the war in Iraq, international pressure will resume on Israel..." Immediately following the war in Iraq, international pressure won't mean squat, especially after some juicy and toxic revelations come out. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-01-27 12:47:03 |
| #4 Put me down to take control of Monaco. Just 'til the crisis is over, mind you... |
| Posted by: Fred 2003-01-27 12:32:57 |
| #3 {extended laughing} Actually, isn't the former monarchy of Iraq shirtail cousins of the jordanian monarchy? BTW, Iran and Turkey and Kuwiat and Syria have also announced the same. They'd all be willing to take over governance of Iraq. Just for a short time, mind you. |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-01-27 12:08:33 |
| #2 If Iraq is the main source of paleostinian support, then yeah, maybe Arafat will be more amenable. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-01-27 11:34:05 |
| #1 Arafat is Saddam's man and has only been kept around so as not to make Saddam nervous and give him an itchy trigger finger on those WMD. Once Saddam is gone, Arafat goes too. |
| Posted by: paj 1/27/2003 2:14:51 PM |