Almost two thirds of Jordanians have changed their views of Al-Qaida for the worse following suicide bombings against Amman hotels that killed more than 50 people last week, a poll said on Wednesday.
The poll of 1,014 people published by independent Al Ghad newspaper also said 87.1 percent of respondents considered Al-Qaida a "terrorist organisation" and that 86.4 percent said the group’s attacks did not represent Islam.
Source: [AP via Haaretz]
Here is a link to an article in Al-Ghad (in Arabic). I think it is really very sad and extremely frustrating that it took an attack in our own backyard for some Jordanians to change their views about Alqaeda terrorism. According to the findings of a poll carried out a few months ago, confidence in bin Laden in Jordan had risen to 60 percent from 55 and support in Jordan for suicide bombings rose to 57 percent from 43 in 2002. It breaks my heart to consider that it took the loss of some innocent Jordanian lives for those that sympathize with Alqaeda to change their minds. Shameful!
[GVO]約旦：約旦人反蓋達
Natasha 說道，將近有三分之二的約旦人現在對蓋達組織深惡痛絕，造成改變的原因是前陣子在阿曼的旅館發生的自殺炸彈攻擊。她覺得非常難過和沮喪，因為竟然得靠著在阿曼發生的攻擊慘劇才能讓部份約旦人改變他們對蓋達組織的看法。 原文鍊結……
So Linda,
Either He is in denial to poll findings, or, irrelevant to what his people think. I would imagine if president Bush was asked such a question, he will not go around the Bush.
I recently read A Leap of Faith by Queen Noor, the American born widow of King Hussein of Jordan. The insight I gained from her story caused a great appreciation for the Jordanian people, their moderate, peace-seeking position, and their spiritual heritage. Additionally, my eyes were opened to a new view of the US involvement with the whole mideast struggle, going back 40 years.
The day of the terrorist attack in Amman, my heart broke with empathy for the Jordanians. And I could literally think and feel how Queen Noor would, folowing such a terrible event.
Unlesss there was a huge paradigm shift after King Hussein’s death, and the subsequent crowning of his son, I cannot imagine that most Jordanians support the terrorist perspective and goals of Al-Qaida. They certainly did not with the PLO. Though they have received thousands of Palestinian refugees.
I do know that historically Jordan has had close ties with Iraq, and King Hussein worked tirelessly with Saddaam Hussein to try to prevent war/achieve peace in the first gulf war. Sadly, Saddaam refused to back down. And the King’s diplomacy efforts and brilliance were not valued or recognized by the US.
I pray that Jordan will not become another powder-keg in the Middle East.
you know what natasha, i think the polls you and other bloggers have been posting in the past paint a false picture of JOrdanians.
A while ago, the King was interveiwed by Wolf Blitzer on CNN and he asked the king what he thought of those polls findings. The king responded by asking, which poll do you mean, and referred to the fact that other polls were taken by more prominent pollsters that showed a different picture of Jordanians in regards to these questions.
I will look for that transcript and the other polls and send you the links to them.
Jordan: Jordanians Disapprove Al-Qaida
Natasha says that almost two thirds of Jordanians have changed their views of Al-Qaida for the worse following suicide bombings against Amman hotels. She feels very sad and extremely frustrating that it took an attack in Amman for some Jordanians to c…