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Iraq-Jordan
Jordanian King Takes Dim View of Sending His Troops to Iraq
2004-07-19
Not to mention what the Iraqis might think.
Jordan's King Abdullah says he would not favor dispatching troops from his country to help bolster security in Iraq. King Abdullah says the international community, including his own country, must be unwavering in its support of stability and security in Iraq. But he questioned the wisdom of having Iraq's neighbors, including Jordan, send troops to Iraq. "I do not think that Jordan is the right country [to send troops to Iraq], not any of the countries that surround Iraq, because I believe that we cannot work with transparency. We would all have personal agendas."
Whoa! That twitched the surprise meter. I'm amazed he said that publicly.
"Therefore, I do not think that we are the right people, morally, to commit to Iraqi security. But at the same time, this Iraq government needs 110 percent support from all of us in the international community. If the Iraq government was to ask us for support, it would be difficult for us to say no," said King Abdullah. The king was quick to add that he did not believe such a request from Iraq is likely. No Arab nations have sent troops to join the multi-national coalition military force in Iraq.
Posted by:Steve White

#15  Gosh, Asedwich, I am truly flattered! A gentleman, indeed :-)
Posted by: trailing wife   2004-07-20 12:40:57 AM  

#14  TW, I was the gentleman of the oh-so Franzosisch name. I changed my nic upon your observation.
Posted by: Asedwich   2004-07-19 5:53:29 PM  

#13  Asedwich,
I must have missed it. Who were you before you became who you are now?
Posted by: trailing wife   2004-07-19 11:04:33 AM  

#12  1. I think Joe is right about Abd doing CYA
2. Chucks point one is definitely right - how do you survive in a Mid East that must become more democratic, when 60% of your pop is Pal origin, and theres chaos about to open up in Gaza and the West Bank? How do you support stability in those places without A. Looking like your supporting Israel or B. Commiting to keeping order there yourself
3. Chucks second point - ive seen that around the blogosphere. May be the case, but if so I think Abdullah will pursue it very cautiously
4. Report this AM that Jordanian troops killed three terrs trying to cross into Israel. Jordan govt is against not only AQ, but against anti-Israel terrorism as well. But they have to balance carefully.
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2004-07-19 9:50:32 AM  

#11  I dont' know about your second point Chuck, but I do know Jordan is scared shitless about Al Qaeda and is trying to take a "don't bother us and we won't bother you" Saudi approach.
Posted by: Spot   2004-07-19 9:20:45 AM  

#10  Jordan's personal agenda is two fold. One is to engage Arab support to balance the still large numbers of Paleos in Jordan.

The second is the restore the family's honor by returning a family member to the throne of Iraq.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2004-07-19 8:43:02 AM  

#9  Abdullah is possibly engaging in a little CYA here. The Jordanian government earlier hinted that they might be willing to send troops to Iraq after the handover, but the interim Iraqi government has repeatedly made it clear - I think they've got their foreign minister going around to the self-same neighboring states right now - that they do _not_ want troops from states bordering on Iraq in Iraq, though they're willing to entertain contingents from Arab and Muslim countries further afield.
Posted by: Joe   2004-07-19 5:15:18 AM  

#8  Gaza does appear to be burning, thank G-d.

But as far as the Oil goes, I think Jordan is doing a careful balancing act. And yes, the admission is very pragmatic in insight and function. Abdullah knows that if he sent troops into Iraq his apparent motive would be closely associated with the other Arab States' view of America's, namely it's all about the oil. (Truth doesn't matter, it's the assertion that suffices.)
Jordan has historically been a poor country. No access to oil, save Iraq. Modern wealth has mostly come about as a result of the peace with Israel, and balancing between the interests of various ME parties. As I've noted under my previous nic, there are nearly more Paleosimians in Jordan than Jordanese. Any action in Iraq would likely cause incredible unrest at home. Abdullah was a commando and saw action against Islamic militants at home before gaining power, he seems to be something of a strategist as well.
Posted by: Asedwich   2004-07-19 4:09:10 AM  

#7  Is Gaza burning? The world wonders!

Posted by: Lucky   2004-07-19 3:37:55 AM  

#6  Lucky, Abdy is having an existential crisis trying to figure out if he will have his country come down on our side 100% or with the terrorists or how long he can stall by not making a decision at all.
Of course, there's the attendant problem of hanging on to his own power--How do you support democracy and secularism in Iraq while Jordan is still an Islamic oligarchy of the Hashemites?
(And how long before the Paleostinians burn down everything in the West Bank and start heading his way to their real homes?)
Schadenfreude is under-rated!
Posted by: Jen   2004-07-19 3:10:35 AM  

#5  If he is going to steal Iraq oil, the US should see to it that he does not step in there
Posted by: Anonymous2258   2004-07-19 3:09:42 AM  

#4  All of it?
Posted by: Lucky   2004-07-19 3:07:49 AM  

#3  They're gonna steal the OIL, Lucky!

/grin
Posted by: Asedwich   2004-07-19 2:50:19 AM  

#2  Anybody have a handle on what the personal agendas are?
Posted by: Lucky   2004-07-19 2:41:27 AM  

#1  "I am answering a question which will not be asked." Lol! F**kin Duh, there dood. And what do you know, I finally agree with "King" Abdullah - heart flutter. Yo, "kingy", you've got plenty of shit to clean up in your own cesspool, get busy. And don't call us or the press or anyone else, you're not the player you think and your plate is already full.
Posted by: .com   2004-07-19 1:16:24 AM  

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