Posted on 02/11/2011 11:24:38 PM PST by bruinbirdman
The early weeks of 2011 have been marked by a surge of protests in the Middle East and North Africa have now overturned two longstanding autocratic regimes, in Tunisia and Egypt. However, the wave of democratic protests have not been contained to the Maghreb, even if the entrenched regimes of the Gulf and Levant do not appear under immediate threat. One country being watched very closely by Washington is Jordan, which ranks as one of America’s staunchest allies in the region. Jordan looked an unlikely target for the kind of social unrest found elsewhere in the region, with a more progressive and popular ruler, and a more vibrant economy than most of its neighbors. However, anti-government protests at the end of January led Jordan’s King Abdullah to dismiss his cabinet and appoint a former army officer, Marouf Bakhit as prime minister. The move was preceded by a $500 million aid package raising civil service salaries and curbing price rises.
Yet, rather than assuaging demonstrators’ concerns, the policies may have emboldened them: a group of 36 tribal leaders who have traditionally served as the “backbone” of the monarchy’s support have issued a petition calling for King Abdullah to end his wife’s role in politics. Queen Rania is resented by some in Jordan for her high profile and her Palestinian background. Moreover, she has earned the ire of some Hashmite tribes for supporting a law that would naturalize more Palestinians, which form a large and growing population in Jordan. The petition calling for Rania’s ouster ominously warned that “disregard for the content of the statement will throw us into what happened in Tunis and Egypt and what will happen in other Arab countries.” (Ha’aretz February 8, 2011)
The fiasco in Egypt has served to embolden all groups who want to embrace radical Islam. This isn’t going to be pretty when the smoke clears.
Play one tribe against the other tribe. duh.
Well, the King shouldn’t have taken their lands and handed it to the family of the Queen.
“The petition calling for Rania’s ouster ominously warned that “disregard for the content of the statement will throw us into what happened in Tunis and Egypt and what will happen in other Arab countries.” “
Yeeks, now they’re calling for her to be ousted?
“Moreover, she has earned the ire of some Hashmite tribes for supporting a law that would naturalize more Palestinians, which form a large and growing population in Jordan”
She has no business meddling.
As I am sure you know, when Britain left the area their division of the territories, as clumsy as it was, intended for Jordan to be the home of the "Palestinians", whoever they are. Instead King Abdullah's father kept most of that for himself and his family. Then with the creation of Israel those who wanted to control the area, the USSR, started stirring the pot against "the Jews."
That is roughly what has been playing out until now. The U.S., the last and most important country to approve the UN resolution which created Israel, has felt obliged to protect Israel as a bulwark against the Communists and the Muslim terrorists. That is until now. Although Carter and Clinton were not friends of Israel they were doing their CYA bit to not be too aggressive because of Congressional resistance. Now, with Obama and Soros, and up until recently solid Democrat Congressional support, it is a balls to the wall, all out effort to drive both America and Israel into the sea.
All this strife didn't pop up all at once by coincidence. Soros has been supporting agitators in all these countries which we considered allies. You have noticed that Libya, Syria, and Iran are not faced with this. In fact, when Iran had a bona fide democratic uprising Obama sat on his hands while they were brutally suppressed.
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