There is little doubt that Jordan's King Abdullah is a friend of the US and a supporter of Democratic reforms. Yet there are problems that must be addressed. Certainly Iraq is having problems with their neighbor. And the public perception of Jordan on the Iraqi "street" is at a low point. Not only is the main terrorist killer of Iraqis the Jordanian Zarqawi, but a recent suicide bombing in the Iraqi town of Hilla was found to have been effected by a Jordanian. The bad part was that there was seen to be celebrations in the streets of Jordan when it happened. Athena of Terrorism Unveiled notes:
Jordanians, for the most part, are extremely peaceful, and an important partner to bring stability and democracy to the region. While many Jordanians are against terrorism, there is certainly a number who have terrorist sympathies.
The news of the celebration sparked angry protests at the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad. Clearly Iraqis are not on the side of the Terrorists. And it is also clear that at least some of the blame for Iraq's trouble with terrorism is falling on Jordan.
In the latest development, Jordan and Iraq have recalled their ambassadors. There is evidence that many of the anti-US, anti-Democracy factions are contained within the country's labor unions. Combatting these groups is fraught with peril for the path of Democracy.
But it is clear that Jordan has to do something in order to be seen as a friend of Iraq and not its enemy.
Meanwhile, Jordan proposes peace with Israel and the Arab League isn't listening. Just like they don't listen about their buddy Sudan.
In Europe, France is accused of German xenophobia. What?! The French xenophobic?
Kofi Annan proposes changes to the Security Council. The biggest problem with the Security Council is the veto, not the number of members. However
Annan also wants the Security Council to draw up guidelines for the use of force to settle international disputes, and for the U.N. to agree on a universal definition of terrorism -one making it clear that no cause whatsoever justifies the deliberate targeting of civilians.
Arab-Muslim nations have resisted this in the past, arguing that a violent Palestinian response to "foreign occupation" was legitimate.
Yeah, well, I'll believe it when I see it. But what difference would it make anyway? It is clear that what is going on in Darfur is genocide but the UN refuses to admit it. In fact, only the US will say it. So what good is it if you have a definition of terrorism that the UN will never use?
Arthur Chrenkoff has Good News on the Democratic front for the Islamic world and a new poll from Iraq.
R.J. Rummel of the Democratic Peace blog has data that shows that political and economic freedom are the antidote for most of the world's troubles.
Political and Economic freedom not only go together, but also they are an engine of a people’s wealth and welfare. Add this to the fact the democratically free countries never have had a famine, virtually never murder their own people, have the least internal violence, and never any wars between them, and you have freedom as the closest thing to a general solution to humanity’s ills.
Amen.