Opportunistic move against Muslim Brotherhood exposes Jordan to risks

Christian Science Monitor ^ | 3-19-2015 | Taylor Luck

[Citizen Zed]

Under pressure from powerful allies in the region, Jordan is seizing on an ideological schism in its local branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as an opportunity to push for a more pro-regime movement.

This month Jordan transferred official recognition of the Brotherhood, which has operated in the kingdom for 70 years, to the liberal wing of the movement. In so doing, it deprived the traditional movement of its final legal foothold in the Arab world, furthering setbacks it suffered in Egypt and the Gulf Arab states.

Jordan’s move, which follows years of growing distrust of the organization, carries significant risks. The Muslim Brotherhood was the kingdom’s largest opposition movement, but operated often as a loyal opposition, at times tempering more radical anti-regime political impulses.

By siding with the liberal wing, Jordan runs the risk of pushing thousands of conservative members of the Brotherhood into the arms of more radical jihadist organizations, including the self-described Islamic State that is still drawing throngs of fighters to its cause.

The new, watered-down Brotherhood, licensed on March 4, is headed by former senator Abdul Majid Thneibat and comprised of liberal Brotherhood officials with ties to the government, providing Jordan what many officials have desired in private – a Brotherhood answerable to the regime that would not push for widespread reforms.

Liberals in the Jordan Brotherhood have long been at loggerheads with its conservative leadership over the group’s strong ties to its Palestinian branch, Hamas, the selection process for leadership posts, and its refusal to take part in Jordan’s parliamentary elections in 2010 and 2013.

Tensions came to a head in March 2014, when conservatives expelled three leading liberal members for taking part in a reform movement, the so-called ZamZam Jordan Building Initiative.

[Citizen Zed]

The Obama Brother's Keeper initiative rolls on.

[dowcaet]

What would the Christian Science Monitor, another liberal rag, suggest that Jordan do? Roll over and have their nation conquered by the Muslim Brotherhood.

[SunkenCiv]

This month Jordan transferred official recognition of the Brotherhood, which has operated in the kingdom for 70 years, to the liberal wing of the movement. In so doing, it deprived the traditional movement of its final legal foothold in the Arab world, furthering setbacks it suffered in Egypt and the Gulf Arab states... Liberals in the Jordan Brotherhood have long been at loggerheads with its conservative leadership over the group's strong ties to... Hamas, the selection process for leadership posts, and its refusal to take part in Jordan's parliamentary elections in 2010 and 2013. Tensions came to a head in March 2014, when conservatives expelled three leading liberal members for taking part in a reform movement, the so-called ZamZam Jordan Building Initiative.

IOW, the MB is, has been, and always will be a terrorist organization, and was, like Hamas, drifting into the ISIS orbit; Bibi's reelection in Israel meant there was a political basis for finally breaking with the jihadists. Partisan Media Shills ping.