Jordan complains of Iraqi refugees that they helped create

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.modbee.com/24hour/global/story/3666772p-13041095c.html

Last Updated: July 26, 2007, 07:02:11 AM PDT


AMMAN, Jordan (AP) Jordan pleaded for international help Thursday to deal with hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have fled here to avoid the violence at home, saying they cost the kingdom $1 billion a year in basic services.

The influx of 750,000 Iraqi refugees into Jordan has strained infrastructure and brought the threat of violence to the country, Jordanian Interior Ministry Secretary-General Mukheimar Abu-Jamous said on the opening day of a conference on the issue.

"The prevailing security situation in Iraq, which prompted an influx of refugees to Jordan, has led to increased security challenges in our country," he said. "Our security bill has peaked."

He did not specify the security problems, but Jordan has shown concern over a possible spread of Iraq's sectarian violence onto its soil as well as potential criminal problems from Iraqis who have few steady job prospects in exile.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. How did Jordan help create 2.5 million Iraqi refugees?

[NNN0LHI]

2. The king allowed the US to use its air space to Shock and Awe these people

Thats how.

Don

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I don't think so...

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/04/03/1048962835005.html

April 3 2003, 4:07 AM

Jordan's King Abdullah II today described for the first time the US-British-Australian attacks on neighbouring Iraq as an "invasion" and said his country had persistently refused to open its airspace to the coalition.


"Jordan is not and will never be a launchpad for strikes on brethren in Iraq and if our airspace was being used for that purpose we would not have allowed civil aviation to use it and would have closed it like other countries have," he said.

Jordanian airspace has remained open since the start of the war on Iraq on March 20.

The king also strongly denied press reports alleging that US troops could deploy through Jordan to attack Iraq after Turkey denied them passage, saying: "This was never proposed to us and we would never allow it".

[NNN0LHI]

4. Kings are not usually known for their truthfulness. This one is no exception

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2003/03/20/811366.htm

Posted Thu Mar 20, 2003 11:38am AEDT
Updated Thu Mar 20, 2003 11:49am AEDT

More than 20 countries have offered logistical help ranging from airspace to troops for a US-led war against Iraq.

The pledges come despite failure by the United States, Britain and Spain to win UN backing for a war that faces strong opposition in the streets of many countries.

Turkey has yielded to US requests for overflight rights for an attack on Iraq, signalling the collapse of Washington's plans for a bigger-scale invasion from Turkish soil.

Following is a snapshot of the likely roles different nations could play in a war on Iraq:

Albania - Offered to send troops in a largely symbolic gesture.

Australia - Sent 2,000-strong force of elite SAS troops, fighter jets and warships to the Gulf.

Bahrain - Headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet.

Britain - Washington's chief ally on Iraq has sent or committed 45,000 military personnel, planes and warships.

Bulgaria - Offered use of airspace, base and refuelling for US warplanes; sent non-combat troops specialising in chemical and biological warfare decontamination.

Croatia - Airspace and airports open to civilian transport planes from the coalition.

Czech Republic - Sent non-combat troops specialising in chemical warfare decontamination in response to US request.

Denmark - The Government decided to take part in the military action with a submarine and a corvette and a medical team.

Germany - Despite opposition to a war on Iraq, Germany has chemical warfare decontamination specialists in Kuwait which will be increased to between 200 and 250 troops.

Hungary - Hosts a US base where Iraqi exiles are trained for possible post-war administrative roles.

Italy - Offered logistical help and use of military bases and ports under longstanding NATO commitments. Parliament approved US use of Italian airspace and military bases but no Italian troops will be involved.

Jordan - Opened its airspace to coalition planes; hosts US troops carrying out search and rescue operations in western Iraq and manning a Patriot anti-missile defence system.



We outsource a lot of our torture to them too:


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6999272/site/newsweek/

Aboard Air CIA

The agency ran a secret charter service, shuttling detainees to interrogation facilities worldwide. Was it legal? What's next? A NEWSWEEK investigation

<snip>U.S. officials insist the CIA has stopped rendering suspects to countries where they believe torture occurs. NEWSWEEK has learned that shortly after a Canadian jihadi suspect of Syrian origin, Maher Arar, was shipped back to Syria in September 2002, officials began having grave second thoughts about rendering suspects to that nation. As a result, the administration made a secret decision to stop sending suspects to Syria. But officials acknowledge that such scruples are being ignored when it comes to rendering suspects to allies like Egypt and Jordan, even though some officials do not believe "assurances" from these nations that they were not mistreating prisoners. Now the CIA may have to supply many more assurances—and Khaled el-Masri, among others, is waiting for them.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. I'm still doubtful about the claims that Jordan allowed the US to use its airspace and

had any US troops except those manning Patriot missle defenses on the eastern border. Only confirmation of your ABC.com story was at the Heritage Foundation. However, there are several hits with items like this one:


http://www.iraqwatch.org/government/Jordan/jordan-petra-071502.htm

Foreign and Arab correspondents visit an air base

PETRA (Jordan State News Agency)

July 15, 2002

Ministry of Information Monday organized by cooperation with the Jordanian Armed Forces Command a visit for foreign and Arab correspondents to Martyr Pilot Mwafaq Salti air base.

The visit is unprecedented action by the Jordanian government where the Armed forces military bases are open for world correspondents. During the visit, the correspondents had a first hand look that refutes the false claims some mass media stations recently reported concerning preparations to launch military operations, by foreign mililtary forces from Jordanian territories and air space, against Iraq.


So, who knows?

[NNN0LHI]

6. Everyone is allowed to believe what they want

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-16-iraq-border-usat_x.htm

Posted 3/16/2003 7:20 PM

U.S. troops keep quiet on Iraq's western front

By Vivienne Walt, USA TODAY

SAFAWI, Jordan — The desert wind is picking up. The cold air cuts through combat gear. But it's not the weather that's bothering the 38-year-old police detective from Brooklyn. It's that he can't tell anyone he is in this country near Iraq's border, ready for war.

"Gimme a break," says the army reservist, a veteran of the 1991 Gulf War against Iraq. "We aren't supposed to be here? Everyone knows we're here."

He is guarding the gate of a Jordanian air base near the border. So secret is the U.S. military presence in this small kingdom that the compact man wearing wrap-around sunglasses is not permitted to have his name in print. snip

Publicly, Jordan's government and almost all its 5 million people oppose a war against Iraq. In talks with President Bush, King Abdullah agreed to allow U.S. military forces to be stationed here on condition their presence be kept as secret as possible. "The U.S. knows we're walking a very tight rope here," Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher told foreign journalists on Thursday. In a deft political juggling act, the government has full diplomatic relations with Israel, yet it trucks its entire oil supply in from Iraq, Israel's mortal enemy. Jordan's trade with Iraq in 2002 was valued at more than $400 million.

The pretense that U.S. forces are not here is wearing thin. Muasher said 2,000 to 3,000 special operations forces are in Jordan, far below the number cited by military analysts. Muasher said U.S. forces' role is "purely defensive."

The rumble of B-1 bombers has shattered the desert stillness around Safawi. That's left no doubt the Americans are here in force.

"The planes start at 10 at night, flying back and forth," says Salam Ajlouni, 46, who works here for Jordan's water authority. "It's hard to sleep these nights."


http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2003/02/25/jordan030225.html

Jordan admits hosting U.S. troops

Last Updated: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 | 3:59 PM ET

<snip>The U.S. troops will service and operate AWAC spy planes and operate three Patriot antimissile batteries.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. OK, but you have to admit that the 'cause' of 2.5 external refugees from Iraq is G.W. Bush & Co.

[NNN0LHI]

8. I said they "helped" create the problem in my original post

Take care for now and we will see you later. I have some errands to run.

Don