Jordan prepares for an imported insurgency
AMMAN — Jordan has quietly bolstered its security forces to prepare for an insurgency imported from Iraq.
Jordanian officials said they were concerned by the departure of Islamic volunteers from Iraq to such neighboring countries as Jordan and Syria. The officials said they could not rule out that the Islamic operatives were being directed to subvert the Hashemite kingdom after receiving training and combat experience in Iraq.
Jordanian Prime Minister Faisal Al Fayez has acknowledged that Jordan was preparing for the prospect that the Iraqi insurgency would spill into the kingdom. Al Fayez said Amman has drafted security plans to quell any attempt to introduce the insurgency in Jordan. Al Fayez did not elaborate.
"We have plans to contain any effort to destabilize Jordan’s security, border security and economic security," Al Fayez said.
Source: [Middle East Newsline]
Is it possible? Yes. Can it be prevented? I believe it can. What can we do? Nothing besides hoping for a quick and a crushing defeat of the insurgency in Iraq.
My dad met King Hussein. And no more of that shall I speak this afternoon…
Hahaha, funny hubby. yeah i know this especially because my father faught in Black September. He was in the Jordanian army. Other than that the one thing he remembers most about being in the army was when he got to meet king hussein.
I wouldn’t worry, seems like an excuse to instill fear in the political arena more than anything. Can someone tell me how exactly these people were receiving training in Iraq from all the places? Because until now I thought Syria and Iran were exporting trained gunman to Iraq. Apparently thanks to the security apparatus in Iraq, the country has become self sufficient and even produce a surplus!
Amir,
Would you believe that I didn’t learn about Black September from school textbooks. The first time I heard about it was in 1995 while I was in Spain on a scholarship stuyding Spanish. Back then, I met this old American man at church who for some reason got so excited when he knew I was from Jordan. He started telling me how he witnessed Black September. I had no idea what he was talking about. That day I went back to the dorms and asked another Jordanian about it.
So my colleague gave me a twisted version of events. After I went back to Jordan I asked others about the events of that black month and they gave me yet another twisted version. They had me confused for years. Things became clearer to me after I read Adnan Abu Oderh’s book: Jordanians, Palestinians and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the Middle East Peace Process. For those curious, it’s worth a look.
Amen, sister. And I happen to think that’s one of their finest qualities: Protect the motherland 🙂
The one thing i have learned about Jordan and Jordanians, no matter what they think about the world, is that when it comes to them and their home turf, they will not stand for anything that will hurt them or their country.
Seems like Jordan has always been constantly under threat of subversion – the closest call was in the 1970’s and they have a strong knack for survival.
Natasha,
Do not lose hope, but always remember who you are and what you stand for in this world. It is easy to go with the current and think how others think. But remember, “We are the salt of the world.”
Jareer,
You would be surprised to know how many “educated” Arabs view these acts as “freedom fighting”. It is making me lose hope in this world!
You reminded me of the well known saying that goes ” A foolish dropped a stone in the well, it took one hundred wise men to take it out.” I believe Jordan authorities are always on alert, but isolated incidents could happen anytime. Just go back to “Disturbing Revelations” and remember the poll findings conducted on Jordanians. I hope no body would view such a potential act as a “freedom fighting !”. What goes around, hopefully will not come around!