This is a follow-up to my reply to Iraqi blogger Zeyad, who felt that the majority of Jordanians regard the late Zarqawi a martyr.
The death of al-Qaida’s chief in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, is still reverberating in Jordan, where the majority of the population sees him as a terrorist. An opinion poll conducted by the non-governmental organization Epsos Stat Center for daily al-Ghad indicated that 59 percent of Jordanians consider their countryman Zarqawi, whose real name is Ahmed Fadel al-Khalayila, a "terrorist." The poll, which surveyed 1,014 people over 18-years-old from various walks of life, also showed that 67 percent refused to see Zarqawi as a "martyr," as he was dubbed by Jordan’s Islamist movement, sparking an uproar among Jordanians.
…The poll, with a margin of error of 3.2 percent, indicated that 70 percent of the sample saw offering condolences for Zarwqawi’s death as a provocation of national sentiments, especially for the families of the Amman bombings in which 60 people died. Only 15 percent, mostly in the 18 to 39 age bracket, described Zarqawi as a "martyr" or an "ordinary citizen." Source: [UPI]
In addition, here is the article on the poll in Alghad (Arabic) and media-analyst and blogger Abu Aardvark’s take on the survey. Who knows, maybe this poll combined with the recent anti-Zarqawi demonstrations will motivate Zeyad to reconsider his position.
“Yes, that’s the conclusion I came to about a year ago when I decided there wasn’t much point in reading Jordanian blogs :)”
So Craig why don’t you stop reading Jordanian blogs then, its been a year and your still here.
“Thanks for the input, but it’s kinda counter-productive to have people telling me that I should ignore what they themselves are telling me, when I read between the lines.”
How about you stop reading between the lines and read the lines themselves Craig
You are one sick person
I’ve seen 2 questions for you here so far Craig, can you answer them for us or you choose to see what you want again?
1) What is your motivation behind all this?
2) How did Eltahaway calm you after 9/11?
So what the hell are you talking about?
Talking about you, Onzlo… and about 50% of the other inhabitants of Jordanian blogs. Not the bloggers themselves. You dispute what polls show, while at the same time, you yourself prove their validity with your own commentary. Isn’t it obvious by now, that’s what I’m talking about?
“Onzlo, thanks for making my point for me… I think 🙂
I stand by the statement that Jordan is the only country where support for terrorism is increasing, though. It’s in the polls, and it’s on the blogs too, for people who look. ”
Im sorry but what is your point? I dont see a point to what you say, only absurd blanket statements based on some weird need to feel hated!
As for your second statement, then it is completely unscientific, the fact that these polls are taken in Jordan and not in all the other countries of the Middle East will obviously give you skewed results, also what polls are you talking about? And where does it say that support for terrorism is increasing?
As for blogs, a quick keyword search on Jordanplanet gave me the following results:
http://www.black-iris.com/?p=831
http://ajloun.blogspot.com/2006/06/zarqawi-dead.html
http://fatshino.blogspot.com/2006/06/so-z-guy-has-been-tossed-into-historys.html
http://myoccupation.blogspot.com/2006/06/what-to-make-of-zarqawis-death.html
http://jadmadi.net/2006/06/08/a-good-reason-to-celebrate/
etc….
So what the hell are you talking about?
When poeple side with Zarqawi they are not doing it because they like terror and terrorists, it’s simply because they don’t belive the sources of the charges (US and govt of Jordan) who were locked in a deadly battle with his group. Zarqawi wanted to topple the govt and kick the americans out of iraq. not surprisingly, the other side will do its best to destory him in the media and physically. again, it’s all a question of crediblity of sources. but if you ask the same people who think Zarqawi is a good guy whther they approve of targetting innocents, I will wager that over 99% of respondants will say NO, including those who consider Zarqawi a hero. at the end of the day, the killings did not end in Iraq, which proves all along that he is not a key figuer. but when the US needs victories, they will inflate a threat then take it out. love zarqawi or hate zarqwi, the question boils down to: which sources of info do you think is credible. i for one don’t buy any info from official Arab media (including ones funded by shieks and princes) or US media. we have seen how they turned palestinains into terrosist and collateral damage and the israelis, the invaders and the ethnic cleansers, are the eternal victims. there is a serious credibilty crisis in the US media, which is overwhelmingly ideological, with few notable exceptions such as the christian science monitor and a handful of others.
You see, Jeff? You think I’m supposed to ignore what these people tell me, and listen to you, instead?
I started reading Natasha’s blog about a year ago for a brief time, and then I stopped. These hatemongers are blaming their hate on me (I deserve it, apparrently) but they were saying the same things last year, to other people. It’s always someone’s fault, isn’t it?
“When I see Jordanians saying teh kinds of things they say on blogs (and in polls) I believe it.”
Actually Mr. Craig, you choose what you want to read and see, 99% of the Jordanians and Arabs on Natasha’s blog were praising the killing of Zarqawi. There were one or two that said they are against killing period, however, they don’t regret that Zarqawi is gone, so maybe you need to learn how to read.
“but I’m not an idiot either”
I was gonna say I beg to differ and say that you are an idiot, but my appologies, true you are not an idiot, you are purly evil, hateful person Craig, you are truly hateful
Bil 3adal
“It’s great that you are “reaching out” to the “other” there Craig, regardless of your motivation”
I love this last bit that Jeff said to Craig, regadless of your motivations. Craig, finally people are starting to see that you have some sort of motivation, what is it? Are you courages enough to tell us?
3ogla
Hi Jeff,
Well, since you brought up a paragraph in particular and asked me to address it, I suppose I will.
To step out with opinions that you consider as sacrosanct as fact about a particular race, country or people based upon things in blogs and polling of any type is to sell yourself and that particular group terribly short.
I don’t have any opinions that I consider “sacrosanct”, Jeff. I just have personal opinions, the same as everyone else.
Get outside; try personal face-to-face feet-on-the-ground experience. It’s a far better gauge.
Yes. You’re right. I travelled all over southeast asia when I was in the Marines back in the 80s, and that’s when I first became aware that things weren’t the way they were reported in the American media. However, I have no intention of going to Jordan. I’m not in the military any more, and I really don’t like to go places where I’m not wanted.
The last time I was in the Middle East was in 1983. I don’t intend to ever go back, unless I have a very good reason to do so.
It’s great that you are “reaching out” to the “other” there Craig, regardless of your motivation.
I don’t know what you think you know about me, Jeff, but I work with Arabs and Iranians, and I have done so for the last 15 years. My best friend is an Arab muslim woman, and I know her better than I ever knew my ex-wife. Who is Chinese, by the way. I may not be an expert (I don’t recall saying I was) but I’m not an idiot either, Jeff. When I see Jordanians saying teh kinds of things they say on blogs (and in polls) I believe it. There’s soemthing WRONG in Jordan, Jeff. It’s trending in teh opposite direction form the rest of the countries in the ME. You can pretend it’s not teher if yuou like, but you can read the evidence right here in Natasha’s blog, from Jordanian readers.
Craig, please do your best to read and consider the entirety of a comment before you reply and then zip about making little wisecracks. Please note that my previous comment said, “Lastly, you note that you are gathering knowledge based upon “polls and blogs.” I’d suggest you seek other sources as well.” I did not discount that information could be gleaned from blogs and polls, only that it should be tempered with information from other sources as well; it’s right there in the “seek other sources as well” part. And although mine was quite the treatise, you seemed to have skipped this final paragraph that reiterates the same point:
You denied it but you do feel you’ve gained some degree of expertise on Arabs and the Arab world from your experiences interacting and reading blogs. It’s great that you are “reaching out” to the “other” there Craig, regardless of your motivation. But it’s not sufficient I’m afraid, to obtain a full accurate picture. It’s the beginning of an education and a great one if you have cajones to pursue it. But you’ve only made it through elementary school I’m afraid. You also need to engage people beyond the cyber wall if you really want to gain some understanding. And yes, a visit to the Middle East, Jordan more specifically, might really do you well. I’m sure you’d find many amongst the American haters residing there that would be glad to host you. That’s really all I have to say to you on the matter.