Amman, Jordan
November 21, 2007
Kathy Kelly will be joining me for the last stretch of my stay in Jordan, and I have been puttering around trying to ready the apartment for her coming. This morning, in an attempt to straighten up the piles of papers and files which have accumulated over the last three months, I’ve been going through newspaper clippings. I am also awaiting a telephone call today to give an interview, so the task serves as a helpful review of events deemed newsworthy here in the Middle East. What are the recurring themes and opinions coming out in their news? What messages and words from the region would we do well to heed in the U.S.?
In a few minutes I will head out to meet with a gifted political cartoonist, Emad Hajjaj. He crafts a cartoon a day for one of Amman’s Arabic newspapers, and I am eager to see his recent artwork. I wonder if his depictions will reinforce some of the issues on the newsprint before me. Here now are a couple pieces of his extraordinary art. I will let you judge for yourselves what message they convey.
“Solutions for the region can be found without the West’s intervention. As long as the Iranians keep to themselves, do not meddle with Arab issues or interfere in internal affairs of the neighbors, the region does not have a problem with them. The unmistakable conclusion is that the U.S. was and is directly and indirectly responsible for the emergence of Iran as a strong force seeking regional domination. Therefore it is ironic to hear the U.S. president talk about the need for U.S. military to stay on in Iraq if only to check the Iranians.” (The Jordan Times,Sept.7,2007, M.Keilani)
“The neoconservative camp in Washington is clamoring for military action against Iran….The region should be alert since any uncalculated adventure would trigger a chain reaction of repercussions in Iraq, Lebanon, the Gulf and throughout the rest of the region.” (Jordan Times, Sept.30,2007, M. Keilani)
“New U.S. sanctions have upped the stakes in a standoff with Iran.”(Jordan Times,Oct. 28,2007)
George Bush says Iran’s acquisition of a nuclear bomb would mean a 3rd world war.” (The Editors, Jordan Times, Oct. 29, 2007)
Pres. Bush appeared on Al Jazeera English TV news this morning, sending out invitations for the Arab-Israel peace talks to be held in Annapolis, Maryland next week. Above is one of Emad’s pieces depicting this event.
“Israel kills 12 Palestinians in less than 24 hours.” (Jordan Times, Sept.28-29, 2007)
“It seems clear that Israel bombed a target in Syria. As such where is the international censure? Has international law become obsolete?” (Jordan Times, Sept. 30,2007)
“Syrian President Bashar Assad all but ruled out participating in the U.S. sponsored Middle East peace conference. Top allies Egypt and Saudi Arabia have not said whether they will attend.” (Jordan Times, Oct. 12-13,2007)
“Israel declares Gaza Strip as hostile enemy.” (Jordan Times, Oct. 24, 2007)
“Israel begins cuts in fuel supplies to Gaza strip.” (Jordan Times, Oct. 29,2007)
“The conference will likely be a media spectacle in which participants will reaffirm their commitment to peace, Israel’s security, condemnation of Palestinian terrorism and so forth. Truly dangerous is the fact that a peace conference which delivers nothing but empty promises is likely to actually precipitate violence. Palestinians, humiliated and besieged might exhibit their anger in a myriad of ways for which they will only receive further condemnation.” (Jordan Times, R. Baroud, Nov. 14,2007)
“US military said it has brought a new weapon into the fight in Iraq, announcing Army’s first ever use of a drone aircraft to kill enemy fighters in the country.” (Jordan Times, Sept. 9, 2007)
“U.N. recent Human Rights report: at least 88 civilians killed in U.S. air strikes from April 1st to June 30th.” (Jordan Times, Oct. 24,2007)
“Eight million Iraqis are in absolute poverty and in need of emergency assistance…. According to U.N.69% of displaced since Feb. 2006 are from Baghdad.” (Jordan Times, Oct. 2007)
“Wars had specific beginnings and specific ends. This catastrophe had a beginning indeed, but there are no signs of its end. It set in motion a chain of events which continue to spread turmoil, instability and violence worldwide, with more innocent victims falling every day.” (Jordan Times, H. Abu Nimah, Sept. 12,2007)
With more innocent victims falling every day….
Cathy Breen
