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| Iraq-Jordan |
| U.S. Defends Prospective Jordan Arms Deal |
| 2004-08-02 |
| The State Department defended a prospective deal to equip Jordan with high-tech air-to-air missiles and cautioned Israel not to build 600 new homes at a large Jewish settlement on the West Bank alongside Jerusalem. As Israel looks to Congress to block the deal to upgrade the firepower of Jordanian jets, department spokesman Adam Ereli praised the Arab kingdom and said the United States would be careful to maintain Israel's military edge over the combined forces of Arab nations. Where has Jordan done much more than pay lip service to fighting terrorism? Somehow, all those tons of chemicals were successfully smuggled into their cozy little kingdom for use against American assets. "We certainly appreciate all that Jordan has done to contribute to regional stability, including its support for a stable, secure and democratic Iraq, as well as its efforts to foster peace between Palestinians and Israel," he said in defense of a weapons sale. What about Jordan assimilating some of the Palestinian refugees to settle on that land they absorbed after Britain's abandonment of Palestine? If they're so serious about contributing to "regional stability" and fostering "peace between Palestinians and Israel" why don't they do something more to heal the open running sore that is the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? I suppose removing that eternal death struggle off the regional agenda might cause more notice to be taken of Middle Eastern countries who still retain antiquated governments and ineffectual anti-terror campaigns. Can't have that now, can we? Jordan has fought alongside Arab nations in all the wars against Israel except the 1973 war. In 1996, under the late King Hussein, Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel. This is the first time Israel has tried to prevent Jordan from buying U.S.-manufactured arms since the signing. Ereli called the deal a potential one, and said the administration had not formally notified Congress of a plan to go ahead. Israel has every right to want this deal blocked. Only when a majority of Arab nations renounce their institutionalized anti-Semitism should there be any talk of advanced weapons sales to anyone in the region other than Israel. |
| Posted by:Zenster |