Unhealthy location between Israel and Iraq. Ruled
by King Abdullah. American troops are stationed there, numbers currently
unknown.
| |
Israeli security |
At Washington's request, Abdullah agreed to permit U.S. forces
to station Patriot air-defense missiles in Jordan -- ostensibly
to protect this country, but in reality to protect Israel,
from any Iraqi missile attack. James
Rupert, Newsday March 26, 2003 |
| |
Consequences |
"As the Iraq war twists the arms of America's traditional
allies in the Arab world -- Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and
others -- the political pain is nowhere greater than in this
small country. Dozens of Jordanians interviewed in recent days
say they feel their country unnervingly close to violent upheaval...credible
evidence that the government is secretly helping in the offensive
on Iraq is the thing that would most quickly turn Jordan's protests
into violent riots. Second on his list would be a military accident
that put a large number of Iraqi civilian casualties on Jordan's
TV screens." James
Rupert, Newsday March 26, 2003 |
| |
US |
"Americans have no idea how close Jordan is to Iraq,"
said Rfouh. "They think we are different countries,"
like the United States and Mexico, "but in many ways, we
are more like two similar states -- say, California and Texas."
In any given year, roughly 10 percent to 20 percent of Jordanian
university students are enrolled Iraqi institutions, he said.
"We have lots of families related by marriage, and both
societies are still very tribal." James
Rupert, Newsday March 26, 2003 |
jordan