[TheMole]

No, they're not nuts. No terrorism has come out of Jordan. The Jordanians expelled the PLO after defeating them in a pitched military battle in 1970. If other Arab states had followed Jordan's example of rooting out terrorists, a lot of grief would have been avoided. Jordan and Morocco are probably the least repressive states in the Arab world. Free trade with Jordan will help keep it that way and give it another reason to stay on the good side of the USA.

[JasonC]

Correct. This is an eminently sensible use of trade to further our diplomatic interests, and the timing is excellent. The formula, all should remember, includes "do good to friends" as well as harm to enemies. It is definitely in our interest to support viable moderate alternatives to anti-western ideologies in the Middle East, and this is a just and painless way to do so.