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Jordan's King Warns: 'No one has any idea what to do about Syria'
24-Oct-2011
Jordan's King Abdullah talks with CNN's John Defterios about Reforms in Jordan, the formation of his new government and unrest in Syria.
'No one has any idea what to do about Syria,' Jordan's king warns by John Defterios
Dead Sea, Jordan (CNN) --No one has any idea how to deal with what's happening in Syria, Jordan's King Abdullah told CNN, saying he has "great concern" about how things will develop there.
"I don't think there's anybody in the region or outside who knows how to tackle the Syria issue," Jordan's ruler said of the country that has seen thousands killed in anti-government demonstrations over the past eight months.
The king has reached out personally to Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad, he said, with little result.
"I've spoken to Bashar twice. I have sent the chief of the royal court to see him on several occasions," he said, to outline how Jordan is trying to implement its own political reforms.
"Not that we've got anything perfect, but you know, national dialogue and outreach-- and they're not really interested in what we have to say," King Abdullah said.
"So we're trying to keep the channels of communication open and watching with great concern how things are going to develop there," he said.
Speaking to CNN on the sidelines of a World Economic Forum meeting on the shores of the Dead Sea, the king also expressed serious doubts that Israel was serious about making peace with the Palestinians.
"I am one of the most optimistic people you'll meet in the Middle East,and for the first time I am very pessimistic about the Israelis and Palestinians moving forward," he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says all the right things about how to reach a solution, the king said, but he sighed deeply when asked if Netanyahu was sincere.
"From what I have seen of the political system in Israel ... Israel is not really interested in a two-state solution," Abdullah said.
"And what's the other option? I think the one-state solution has tremendous negative implications on all of us, including the Israelis," he said.
And he pleaded with the Americans not to disengage from the region during U.S. election season, warning that to so do risks war.
"That would be disastrous because whenever there is a vacuum, whenever there is astatus quo, there's usually a war. And so we're missing a tremendous opportunity," he said.
The focus has to remain on the Israelis and Palestinians because they are the central issue in the region, he said.
"I think the Arab Spring was a good opportunity for some to ignore the core issue that's always been here, that is, the future of the Israelis and Palestinians," he said.
Jordan itself is moving on from the Arab Spring, he suggested, preparing for national elections next year.
"We're going from the Arab Spring to the Arab Summer," the king said.
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Jordan's King Abdullah calls on Assad to 'resign'
by Darius Kadivar on Mon Nov 14, 2011 05:05 AM PSTJordan calls on Assad to resign (bbc)
King Abdullah of Jordan has said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should step down in the interest of his country.
"I believe, if I were in his shoes, I would step down," he has told BBC World News in an exclusive interview.
"I would step down and make sure whoever comes behind me has the ability to change the status quo that we're seeing."
Neighbouring Jordan has been highly critical of Syria's crackdown on anti-government protesters in recent months.
Jordan king pardons terror convicts
by Darius Kadivar on Sun Nov 13, 2011 03:16 AM PSTJordan king pardons terror convicts - FRANCE 24
AFP - Jordan's King Abdullah II has pardoned 12 Jordanians described by local press on Friday as Salafists, at least six of whom were convicted on terrorism charges in 2006.
The king issued a decree on Thursday giving the 12 a special pardon, state-run Petra news agency reported without elaborating.
Independent daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm said Friday the men are Salafists, who espouse an austere form of Sunni Islam that seeks a return to practices that were common in the early days of the faith.
HRW Report: Syrian accused of crimes against humanity
by Darius Kadivar on Sun Nov 13, 2011 03:07 AM PST(CNN) -- The Syrian government's "systematic" crackdown on civilians amounts to crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch said in a report issued Friday.
The watchdog group has already urged the Arab League to press President Bashar al-Assad's government to allow human rights monitors into the country. Now, it is urging the Arab League, which has called an emergency meeting in Cairo on Saturday, to suspend Syria's membership and to ask the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions.
It also said Syria should be referred to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
Human Rights Watch highlighted what it called "the systematic nature of abuses against civilians" by the Syrian regime, "including torture and unlawful killings."
It based its 63-page report on more than 110 interviews with victims and witnesses from the besieged city and governorate of Homs, which has emerged as the center of the months-long uprising. FULL STORY
CNN's Ben Wedeman Insightful Analysis on Arab League on Syria
by Darius Kadivar on Sun Nov 13, 2011 02:49 AM PSTSTORY HIGHLIGHTS
There is more to the vote against Syria than the "Arab Spring"
As much as Arab autocrats fear their people, they also fear Iran
Iran's regional position has strengthened in the last decade
America's isperceived to be withering
Interested to get your
by vildemose on Tue Oct 25, 2011 03:36 PM PDTInterested to get your ‘take’ on Nir Rosen’s work @ Al Jazeera, emphasizing the ethnic divide in the Syrian Civil War. He hasn’t discussed Assad’s strong Sunni support in Damascus. I write ‘civil war’ because this seems like a war along religious and/or regional conflict, with ideology and governance issues secondary.
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." - Louis D. Brandeis
Ambassador Ford’s
by vildemose on Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:49 AM PDT
Ambassador Ford’s Departure a Defeat for al-Assad""There is no immediate danger of Obama going in the direction recommended by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), of military action against Syria. But the likelihood of Ford actually returning to his post any time soon, despite State Department assurances, is low. He has repeatedly been the object of ire among regime loyalists in Syria, and his abrupt return to Washington appears to be related to some sort of planned attack on him. Ford has vocally supported the right of Syrians to peaceable assembly and protest (he should have a word with the US police forces who have arrested or harassed so many of the “Occupy” protesters). Despite his being a thorn in the side of the Baathist regime, President Bashar al-Assad is making a huge error in allowing the situation to deteriorate so badly that Ford has had to leave.""
//www.juancole.com/2011/10/ambassador-fords-departure-a-defeat-for-al-assad.html
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." - Louis D. Brandeis