Jordanian prince in WWIII warning (international conference suggested)

El Beeb (BBC) ^ | 26 March, 2004 | Lucy Williamson

[rogueleader]

Prince Hassan of Jordan has said he fears a third world war is erupting in the Middle East.

Speaking to BBC's Radio Four, he said it was an "extremely depressing" time.

Extremist voices in the region were rising, and not only individuals but states were taking the law into their own hands, the prince said.

He was speaking after a week in which Israel assassinated the spritual leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

'Spillover fears'

The prince said he feared the violence currently marking Israeli-Palestinian relations would spread to other countries in the region.

"I'm afraid we'll see spillover into hostilities with Lebanon; already Hezbollah is bombing in the north," Prince Hassan said.

"A spillover into hostilities with Syria... and of course Iran is still very much on the axis of evil."

What the situation needed, he said, was an Arab intermediary, and for the international community to focus not just on security, but also a longer-term dialogue.

'Versailles for the Middle East'

On a wider scale, he said recent events in Madrid showed that centrist forces worldwide were under threat.

He added that to stand any chance of progress in the Middle East, the international community needed to be clear about the different reasons for their involvement in the region.

"We have to sort out the cards again - the war on terror, the question of Palestine, the question of Iraq, the question of Afghanistan, WMD (weapons of mass destruction), Iran.

"It is such a hotch-potch at the present time that I'm afraid the making of a third world war is actually taking place in front of our very eyes."

The prince made his comments on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement, and just days before a planned Arab summit in Tunis.

He called on all those involved in that part of the world to form a conference, saying what the region needed was "a Versailles for the Middle East".

[rogueleader]

I agree. Let's hold a big international conference. Make sure everybody's there, including the new governments of Iraq and Afghanistan, Spain, France, and so on. Make sure everybody's on the same page.

There is absolutely no need for this whole thing to boil over. That is, in fact, precisely what Bin Laden wants.

President Bush should call together the big conference. It would be a display of statesmanship and bold leadership.

[GeronL]

LOL.

Its awful the little guy is fighting back, we bullies need a conference

[No Truce With Kings]

Well, talk about asleep at the switch. Mr. Princie did not seem to notice that a world war started back on September 11, 2001. And, yes, the Middle East is *already* kind of involved.

Another problem with hereditary leadership. No matter how smart the first generation, by the time you get to the third, they ain't exactly the sharpest pencils in the box.

As His Highness, the Prince is now illustrating. . .

[Robert_Paulson2]

"We are afraid Iran and Syria may be overthrown!
Quick call for an islamic arab intermediary to save their asses."

WE don't need any more arab/islamic intermediaries.
WE DO need to wipe out the concept of a pan arab state.

[Porterville]

Down with monarchies, let the people sort out the politics.

[GeronL]

Bye Bye to the tyrants of Iran and Syria

[DonaldDuke]

Make sure everybody's there, including the new governments of Iraq and Afghanistan, Spain, France, and so on. Make sure everybody's on the same page.

Nah. All you need is all the islamic governments. Within the blast radius of one modest warhead. Oh, what the heck.. throw in the spanish and the french as well. Can't have too much of a good thing.

[BunnySlippers]

Didn't some big Arab conference just get called off today? This thing has been brewing for decades ... now it's "help, help".

[Waco]

Bust em,,, don't use nukes,,,,an unlimited supply of Alpo can be made from the bits and pieces. Good ole Am. Ingunity.

[jwalsh07]

Guys two wars late for cripes sake.

[Travis McGee]

Hey "Prince," WW3 started on 9-11. Deal with it.

[TLI]

Bust em,,, don't use nukes,,,

There it is again. No Nukes. Why the heck is everyone soooo squeamish about `lil old nukers? They work GREAT, are VERY predictable and in the grand scheme of things way cheap.

One more thing, we popped off a BUNCH of them above ground right here in the good old u.S.A. and we are still here, no nuke winter, no wrath of the peace nick aliens, nada. I don't see a big difference in Nevada sand and M.E. sand...

[Waco]

We do't want "hot" Alpo.

[tessalu]

Mr Prince should be warning the Suicide bombers and the Islamics. This Prince seems to be half chicken.

[AZLiberty]

Prince Hassan of Jordan has said he fears a third world war is erupting in the Middle East.

Bring it on!

[singfreedom]

I'd say this guy is only a "day late and millions short" or possibly, "52 cards short of a deck". What's happened is these leaders in the M.E. have encouraged the "crazies" as a way to get back at Israel, now the "crazies" are threating the "leaders" and they are getting scared! Serves them right! Now they have a hard choice to make: continue to harbor and finance the terrorists, or, forget their petty pique with Israel, and side with the U.S. Either way they're screwed! I love it.