by Natasha Tynes | Nov 16, 2005 | Jordan, my nation
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!
by Natasha Tynes | Nov 15, 2005 | Jordan, my nation
Jordan TV has announced the resignations of 11 top officials, including the national security adviser, in the wake of the Jordan bombings. King Abdullah II appointed Marouf al-Bakhit, Amman’s ambassador to Israel, to replace outgoing security chief Saad Kheir, a former head of Jordan’s intelligence department. No details were given for the resignation of Kheir and 10 others, including prominent religious advisers to Abdullah, but a limited shake-up had been expected.
Source: [AP]
Here is additional information from Alarabiya and Elaph (Arabic). Also Jordanian blogger Khalaf offers a good analysis. Meanwhile, a Jordanian official says the decision has nothing to do with the terroirst attacks that occured in Jordan on Wednesday.
"The moves may have been speeded up by the tragic events but the decision itself has nothing to do with it. It’s related to moves to restructure the royal court," one senior official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
Source: [Aljazeera]
As the story of the officials’ resignation (or "sacking" as Alrabiya reports) is developing, I leave you with a highlight from this DPA article, which claims that an Egyptian caretaker helped Jordanian authorities find the failed suicide bomber:
When Al Qaeda issued its statement the day after the Wednesday night bombing, saying that four people, one of whom was a woman, had carried out the operation, the caretaker came to believe that the bombers and the tenants were the same people. Adding to that conviction was the fact that the bombers had said they would be visiting another Jordanian city later that Wednesday and returning the following day. Despite this, the woman returned alone and in a state of agitation last Wednesday night. The caretaker informed the landlord of his suspicions, who in turn gave the Jordanian authorities the passports the four had presented to him to rent the flat.
Source: [DPA]
by Natasha Tynes | Nov 15, 2005 | Jordan, my nation
I just finished reading this article about the new anti-terror measures put in place in Jordan. This particular paragraph grabbed my attention:
The laws propose allowing any suspect to be held for questioning indefinitely and imposing penalties on "those who would expose the lives and properties of citizens to danger inside and outside the country," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was unauthorized to speak to the media.
Anyone condoning or justifying terror actions or supporting them financially will face penalties under the proposed laws, he added.
Source: [The Guardian]
Does this last paragraph refer to terror actions in Jordan or will it extend to include terrorism outside the borders of the kingdom? Also, I wonder how Jordanian authorities will be able to implement this law when according to the lastest poll findings confidence in bin Laden has risen to 60 percent from 55 percent and support in Jordan for suicide bombings increased to 57 percent from 43 in 2002.
Meanwhile, Jordan’s Islamists are warning against a possible clampdown.
by Natasha Tynes | Nov 14, 2005 | Media watch
The Jordanian-based news and entertainment portal Albawaba insists on calling insurgents in Iraq "resistance fighters." Unbelievable! Don’t they realize that those same "resistance fighters" just crossed the border to inflict the carnage in Amman? Or is Albawaba still following the flawed logic that when insurgents come to Jordan they are terrorists but when they are on the other side of the border they are "Resistance Fighters"?!? Here is an excerpt from this masterpiece:
US sources reported that 37 Iraqi resistance fighters were killed in an early morning military offensive on Monday. The attack, according to military spokesmen, occurred near the Iraqi-Syrian border, which has seen in recent weeks a surge in fighting as US troops attempt to thwart the passage of resistance fighters into Iraq from Syria’s ill-guarded border.
I wonder what the editors at Albawaba will make of this. Apparently, some new reports indicate that one of the terrorists — one of those Albawaba proudly labels "resistance fighters" — was released from US custody in Falluja only to make his way to Jordan to unleash this attack.
by Natasha Tynes | Nov 14, 2005 | Jordan, my nation
Iran sees ‘Zionist’ link to Jordan attacks
LONDON (IranMania) — Iran said it suspected Israel was behind the suicide attacks in Amman, even though Jordanian officials have blamed the bombings on militants linked to Iraq-based Al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, said AFP. "The explosions in Jordan are a suspicious matter. Most probably the Zionist regime (Israel) was behind them," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters.
Souce: [Iran Mania News]
I’m really not in the mood to hear another genius Iranian declaration. Can’t these people just shut up once and for all. Didn’t they learn from their previous calls to "Wipe Israel off the map." Geez!
