According to the latest poll conducted by the Center for Strategic Studies, the percentage of Jordanians that consider Bin Laden’s al-Qaeda movement as a legitimate resistance group has dropped from 66.8% in 2004 to 20% in December 2005. Here is an excerpt from the Jordan Times’ article:
Public opinion on terrorism has significantly changed over the past year, with a majority of Jordanians classifying Al Qaeda as a terrorist rather than a "legitimate resistance organization," a poll showed Wednesday.
According to a study published by the University of Jordan’s Center for Strategic Studies (CSS), the percentage of respondents who consider Osama Bin Laden’s al-Qaeda organization as a legitimate resistance group dropped from 66.8 per cent in 2004 to 20 per cent in December 2005. Pollsters told The Jordan Times they believe the Nov. 9 Amman bombings had a great impact on citizens’ perception of terrorist organizations and acts.
While this is good news, of course, it is still sad to know that it took the loss of innocent Jordanian lives for some to finally recognize that al-Qaeda is indeed a terrorist group.
While I am sorry that human beings had to die for the Jordanian people to understand that Bin Laden is the devil incarnate. The sad fact is that even we in the US didn’t understand the depth of involvement of some radical elements of the Muslim faith in world wide terrorism until 9/11. The only way that peace loving people of different faiths to co-exist is to join together in calling terrorism exactly what it is, no matter who perpetrates it.
It is unfortunate that the Muslim religion in general seems to overlook gross transgressions by anyone calling themselves Muslim. If the more conservative members of the Muslim religion are to be believed when they say that Islam is NOT a violent religion, they must be brave enough to stand up and call a terrorist a terrorist even if that terrorist happens to CALL him or herself a Muslim.
That’s an almost stunning improvement. You suggest in your post that it was the bombing at the hotels which led to this change. Do you think that is the only thing that affected the numbers? And what else can be done to turn the 1 in 4 still holding on to a sympathy so violent that even children are fair game?
Yes 72% of Jordanians consider zarqawi a terrorist, Good. But, what about the rest (more than one in four). To me it is really disturbing that after all what’s happened more than quarter of people here still sympathize with this psycho.
What is wrong? Are they misinformed, ignorant, depressed, oppressed, angry or what. We are talking about a mass murder here, aren’t we ?.
Happy to hear about the change in public perception,but am wondering why anyone ever considered al-Qaeda a legitimate resistance organization.Forgive my ignorance,but what exactly are they supposed to be resisting,and why don’t they fight like real men and not cowards?
It will be interesting to see what Bin Laden has to say about Sharon.If he says God struck him down,I just might agree…although for vastly different reasons.
You would have got better poll results if the survey was conducted by the Jordan Inteligence (mokh-mokh)