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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Jordan: Federalization and Annexation? |
| 2005-04-16 |
| King Abdullah II is deeply preoccupied in restructuring governance in his realm according to a self-designed pattern of democracy. This revolutionary process is going forward quietly step by step. This month, he appointed a new government shorn of policy-making authority in the fields of foreign affairs, defense and home security, prerogatives that will pass to the royal court. Furthermore, he is acting to decentralize parliament in Amman. But along with these radical reforms, the Jordanian king's peripheral sight is fixed on his western neighbor. He has not missed Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas's descent deeper day by day into the morass of disorder and revolt... Of one thing Abdullah is certain: he cannot afford a Hamas takeover of Palestinian government in the West Bank and Gaza. The Palestinian Hamas terrorist group is not isolated or autonomous; it is a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, a worldwide jihadist movement whjch is strongest in the Arab world. A Brotherhood-dominated government in Ramallah would point a knife at the Hashemite throne in Amman. Abdullah is therefore turning over the possibility of Jordan moving in to fill the power vacuum that would be formed on the West Bank by Abu Mazen's downfall... |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #1 Fascinating. A good outcome for Israel, if it works. The Jordanian monarchs have been more successful at maintaining civilized society than the Palestinians have yet shown themselves even interested in. And certainly Israel would rather not have to risk her citizenry -- both civilian and military -- continuing to attempt to enforce order. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-04-16 10:06:17 PM |