Well, the first thing that I did this sunny Sunday morning was to read a 12-page feature in the New York Times entitled "Iraq’s Jordanian Jihadis." Trust me, this not a good way to start your weekend. Here is one excerpt:
Now we know that the quiet kingdom was producing the man thought to be spearheading the deadliest aspects of the Iraqi insurgency — and who brought the fight back to Jordan in three hotel bombings last December: Ahmed Fadeel Nazal al-Khalayleh, better known as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi after his hometown of Zarqa, a poor city an hour’s drive north of Amman. How the quiet kingdom of Jordan could produce a man who has become known as the Sheik of the Slaughterers is a question at the heart of contemporary jihad.
Zarqawi is exceptionally cruel, but he is otherwise not such an exception. Jordan is home to many jihadis, young men from much the same milieu that produced Zarqawi, and especially since the United States invaded Iraq nearly three years ago, Jordan has increasingly become a not-so-quiet place, a place where local Islamists cross easily into Iraq and back, a place where a jihadist underground can seem almost a normal part of a nation’s life. And if such an underground can become normal in quiet Jordan, what is to keep it from becoming normal in any Muslim country?
I’m fully aware of the existence of jihadis in Jordan, but this feature makes Jordan look like one big jihad incubator! I’m sure this piece would cause the average American reader to think twice before visiting my country! Ok, here is a quick message to those that have already read the artilce: Yes, Jordan has its issues. But it is still a safe place with extremely friendly, helpful people and stunning scenery.
“And if such an underground can become normal in quiet Jordan, what is to keep it from becoming normal in any Muslim country?”
mmmm…. I don’t know, maybe stop invading and occupying neighbouring countries?!?!?!
That Zarqawi is not the only jihadist from Jordan should not surprise anyone,but at least they don’t do their dirty work at home.
As someone who longs to visit Jordan, I’m not certain this is comforting. It reminds me that so many Jordanians supposedly think that terrorists blowing up Iraqis is okay, but “In Jordan? Why that’s an outrage!”
Jihadis have to start somewhere, and why not close to home? I’m sure it is safe for you, Natasha, but are you saying it would be safe for an American who wasn’t verrrry careful to disguise himself as errr…Bulgarian or something?
Furat River,
Thanks for the link!
well said Hamzeh 🙂 they got the jihad in wrong way!!
and its just people surprised from what happened coz its the first time, Jordan is a peacful country and it will stay like this, Jordan under God’s protection not people 🙂
Check this you may find it of interest ,it is a link from Ashrqalawsat ,the end of article it is about it is about Jill:
Asharq Alawsat article
I love to learn about the country I grew up in from people who probably never visited it; Irbid is also known as Jihadi Central? This is news to me.
I didn’t mean you Brian when I said “people”, I hope you enjoyed your stay in Jordan and hope you visit again.
This story would not keep me from visiting Jordan.Other than the hotel bombings last Fall,there really haven’t been any terrorist attacks that I am aware of.That Zarqawi is not the only jihadist from Jordan should not surprise anyone,but at least they don’t do their dirty work at home.Besides,Jordan is not the only country that breeds muslim jihadists.They can hail from anywhere,including Europe and the possibly the US.
I spent a summer in Irbid, supposedly jihadi central, and didn’t even realize it until I started following news accounts when I got back. Really, if it were that dangerous, you’d hear about it all the time in a more high-profile way.
As St. Paul describes it in 2nd Tim; Jihad in itself is not bad; the bad in it if it is used in the wrong way as anything else. Paul says at the end of his life; ‘I fought the good fight- translated in the Arabic Bible as ” Jaahadto aljihaad al 7asan” , but we know from his life, and the core of Christianity, that the fight is spiritual. Other religions use the same term to refer to the intimidation and violent jihad to reach out to others.
So what is a Jihadi?