DATE=2/23/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-39051
TITLE=JORDAN/IRAQ
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=AMMAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: JORDAN'S GOVERNMENT HAS WELCOMED THE ACCORD BETWEEN IRAQ
AND THE UNITED NATIONS ON ACCESS TO IRAQI WEAPONS SITES. THE
CRISIS AND THE U-S THREAT TO LAUNCH MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ
PROMPTED ANGER AND UNREST IN JORDAN, INCLUDING TWO DAYS OF
RIOTING IN THE SOUTHERN TOWN OF MAAN THAT LEFT ONE DEAD AND AT
LEAST TEN WOUNDED. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN AMMAN
REPORTS THAT WHILE THE IMMEDIATE CRISIS MAY BE EASING, THE
JORDANIAN GOVERNMENT REMAINS IN A DIFFICULT POSITION,
TEXT: JORDAN PAID DEARLY FOR ITS FAILURE TO SUPPORT THE U-S LED
COALITION THAT OUSTED IRAQ'S INVASION FORCE FROM KUWAIT SEVEN
YEARS AGO.
MORE THAN ONE-MILLION REFUGEES FLOODED INTO THE KINGDOM AFTER
IRAQI TROOPS OCCUPIED KUWAIT. AND THEY WERE QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY
SOME 300-THOUSAND JORDANIANS DISMISSED FROM WELL-PAID JOBS IN
KUWAIT AND OTHER GULF STATES AMID ANGER AMONG REGIONAL
GOVERNMENTS OVER AMMAN'S PERCEIVED TILT TOWARD BAGHDAD.
THE STRAIN BETWEEN JORDAN AND THE GULF STATES COST AMMAN SEVERAL
HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN ANNUAL AID FROM ARAB STATES. AND THE
RETURN OF THE EMIGRANT WORKERS ADDED FRESH STRAINS TO AN ALREADY
FRAGILE ECONOMY.
KING HUSSEIN HAS SOUGHT TO RE-ESTABLISH TIES WITH THE GULF
STATES, AND HE HAS DISTANCED HIMSELF FROM IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM
HUSSEIN DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS. BUT AMMAN IS STILL HEAVILY
DEPENDENT ON TRADE WITH IRAQ. BAGHDAD SUPPLIES VIRTUALLY ALL
JORDAN'S OIL NEEDS AT BELOW-MARKET PRICES, TO OFFSET ITS HUGE
DEBT TO AMMAN.
WHEN THE CURRENT CRISIS ERUPTED, JORDAN QUICKLY VOICED OPPOSITION
TO ANY MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ, BUT DEMANDED THAT BAGHDAD
COMPLY WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS ON ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
NABIL AL-SHARIF, EDITOR OF THE AMMAN NEWSPAPER, AL-DESTOUR, SAYS
THE GOVERNMENT HAD CAREFULLY CHARTED ITS COURSE.
/// SHARIF ACT ///
IT DEFINITELY SUPPORTS THE IRAQI PEOPLE AND IT SUPPORTS
THE UNITY OF IRAQ AS SUCH, BUT IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY
SUPPORT THE ANTI-DEMOCRATIC POLICIES OF SADDAM HUSSEIN.
/// END ACT ///
MR. SHARIF SAYS MANY OF JORDAN'S POLITICAL ELITE SHARE THE
GOVERNMENT'S DISTASTE FOR THE IRAQI LEADER, BLAMING SADDAM FOR
MANY OF THE ILLS NOW AFFECTING THE ARAB WORLD. BUT HE SAYS THAT
IS NOT THE VIEW BEING EXPRESSED BY ORDINARY JORDANIANS.
/// SHARIF ACT ///
THEY SEE SADDAM AS AN EMBODIMENT OF SOME SORT OF LOST
PRIDE, SOMEBODY WHO SAYS "NO" IN THIS TIME AND ERA WHEN
LEADERSHIPS SIMPLY HAVE NO POWER TO RESIST ANY
PRESSURE. SO THEY LOOK UP TO HIM AS SOME SORT OF HERO.
/// END ACT ///
JORDAN'S POLICY STATEMENT ON THE CRISIS WAS QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY A
BAN ON PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS -- NECESSARY, ACCORDING TO JORDANIAN
OFFICIALS, TO GUARANTEE STABILITY AT A TIME OF RISING REGIONAL
TENSION.
BUT OPPOSITION LEADERS CALLED THE BAN AN ANTI-DEMOCRATIC MOVE,
DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE JORDANIAN PEOPLE FROM EXPRESSING THEIR
ANGER OVER THE U-S THREATS AGAINST IRAQ.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCUSED THE OPPOSITION OF INSTIGATING THE
PRO-IRAQ PROTESTS AND THE UNREST THAT ERUPTED IN THE SOUTHERN
TOWN OF MAAN, AS WELL AS AN ABORTIVE DEMONSTRATION HERE IN THE
CAPITAL.
POLITICAL COMMENTATOR LABIB QAMHAWI SAYS THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME
INCITEMENT. BUT HE BELIEVES THE PROTESTS WERE SPARKED BY MUCH
MORE THAN JUST THE IRAQ CRISIS.
/// QAMHAWI ACT ///
ACTUALLY, THE FRUSTRATION HAS BEEN BUILDING UP FOR QUITE
SOME TIME, AND IT NEEDED A DEVELOPMENT, A DRASTIC
DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS TO JUST BLOW IT UP AND TO MAKE
PEOPLE EXPLODE.
/// END ACT ///
MR. QAMHAWI SAYS JORDANIANS REMAIN DEEPLY DISCONTENT OVER THE
LACK OF MOVEMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS, AND ANGRY
OVER WHAT THEY PERCEIVE AS THE FAILURE OF THE UNITED STATES TO
EXERT ANY REAL PRESSURE ON THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT. THE
ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENT WAS ONLY COMPOUNDED, HE SAYS, BY THE U-S
THREAT OF MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ.
/// QAMHAWI ACT ///
EVEN THOSE WHO ARE AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN DO NOT FEEL
THAT THIS IS THE TIME TO VOICE THIS OPPOSITION. THEY
FEEL NOW THAT ANY CRITICISM OF SADDAM HUSSEIN, IT MEANS
THAT THEY ARE PLAYING INTO AMERICAN HANDS, SO THEY TRY
TO AVOID IT.
/// END ACT ///
MR. QAMHAWI AND OTHER COMMENTATORS HERE PREDICTED THAT A U-S
ATTACK AGAINST IRAQ WOULD SPARK MASS PROTESTS AND VIOLENCE
THROUGHOUT THE ARAB WORLD.
THAT THREAT MAY BE FADING NOW, THANKS TO MONDAY'S AGREEMENT IN
BAGHDAD. BUT ANALYSTS HERE SAY THEY WILL REMAIN CAUTIOUS UNTIL
THEY ARE CERTAIN THE UNITED STATES WILL ENDORSE THE ACCORD.
(SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/JWH
23-Feb-98 12:03 PM EST (1703 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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