U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. David Sosa studies map of training
area
with Jordanian Army Lt. Col. Saif in Jabal, Petra, Jordan last year.
Traditionally close military ties between the U.S. and Jordan
appear
to be deepening, as U.S. involvement in the Syria crisis expands.
U.S. Troops in
Jordan: It is Unwise to Oppose Uncle Sam (Al Ghad,
Jordan)
"No one
can dispense with America. One Internet user, while preaching to me against Facebook and the Apple iPhone, said
he uses Samsung, forgetting that Samsung is associated with Google, which is another
U.S. company, and that South Korea is simply an American protectorate. ... Those
who want to fight America can join al-Qaeda, which has been doing so for two
decades since it dragged U.S. soldiers through the streets of Somalia. But
those who seek to build state and civil relations must not proceed down this disastrous
path. Those who disagree can go live in Kandahar."
We have a big problem with America, both in terms of its alliance
with the regime ofoccupation [Israel],
or its domination-based foreign policy. But that does not eliminate America
from the world map; nor does this transform it into a "Great Satan." Regretfully
though, economically, politically and militarily, America can do without us and
the world - but we cannot do without America.
So naturally, news about the presence of U.S. military personnel
in Jordan has raised objections. The opposition, especially the Muslim
Brotherhood, was quick to reject this presence. In the popular imagination, the
idea of holding a positive image of the U.S. military, whether in Iraq,
Afghanistan or anywhere else, is impossible.
The news leaked by U.S. media mentions that the U.S.
military is concerned about dealing with chemical weapons in Syria. If I was in
Jordan's government, I would call for international, Arab and local expertise in
addressing this dangerous issue, particularly with so many reports confirming
that the Syrian government, which has killed at least 100,000 of its own
people, has now used chemical weapons against them.
It is the duty of the state and society to deal with this potential
danger, and our associations of engineers and doctors should inform us how best
to deal with a chemical attack. The state should inform society about the
dangers and guide people about how to deal with it, and make all possible
efforts with every country in the world, except Israel, to undermine this
threat.
In Jordan, the military is a widely respected institution. Yet
it relies almost entirely on the United States for training and equipment, from
M-16 rifles to F-16 fighters. And strategically, the only disagreement between
the U.S. and Jordan came in 1990 [the First Gulf War]. Jordan then rejected
international intervention betting on an Arab solution. But between the intransigence
of Saddam Hussein and Bush Senior, King Hussein’s efforts to spare the region one
of its worst wars failed. King Hussein also tried to use his connections with
America to avoid the 1967 War, but because of the intransigence of Israel and Gamal
Abdel Nasser, failed then as well.
Being on good terms with America does not mean being its agent.
Just as a reminder, in the 1973 War [aka/the Yom Kippur War], King
Feisal of Saudi Arabia and King Hussein, both U.S. allies, stood against
Israel. And King Feisal is the one who cut oil shipments to the West [the 1973 Arab Oil
Embargo], and a combined Arab army participated in battles for the Golan
Heights.
To diagnose the position of the Jordanian state does not
mean you approve of it. I'm not a foreign minister or military chief of staff, so
when I support the fight of Afghanis and Iraqis against U.S. occupation forces,
that does not prevent me from getting a visa to the United States. But if these
were my positions as foreign minister, it would be like a declaration of war
against the mightiest force in history. I am not in the seeking to outbid anyone
else’s position nor embellish the influence of the United States. I am
appealing for reason in choosing what the nature of our relations should be
with America - as a country, as groups or as individuals.
No one can dispense with America. One Internet user, while preaching
to me against Facebook and the Apple iPhone, said he uses Samsung, forgetting that Samsung is associated
with Google, which is another U.S. company, and that South Korea is simply an
American protectorate. Syria, always raising anti-imperialistic slogans,
participated with America in the Battle of Hafr Al Batin; and Muammar
Gaddafi, who committed terrorist acts against it, in the end could only
surrender, pay compensation to the victims, and open Libya's doors to U.S. oil
firms.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Great transparency must be maintained in our debate about whether
relations with America are serving our interests, both in terms of the
Arab-Israeli conflict or development and progress.
Those who want to fight America can join al-Qaeda, which has
been doing so for two decades since it dragged U.S. soldiers through the streets
of Somalia. But those who seek to build state and civil relations must not proceed
down this disastrous path. Those who disagree can go live in Kandahar.
