Jordanian Blasts Strike Close to Home
Today's terrorist blasts at three American-owned hotels in Amman, Jordan, have touched me personally. Exactly one month ago I was in Amman boarding a plane to return to the United States after a one-week visit. While in Amman I stayed at the Regency Palace Hotel but could see the towers and signs of the Radisson SAS, Day's Inn and Grand Hyatt hotels looming nearby.
At the moment news reports are that at least 27 people have been killed in what have been described as "suicide bombings." Earlier reports that indicated that a suitcase exploded suggests that there might be some other explanation as to the source of the explosions. No one so far has claimed credit for the attacks.
There are many other American-owned hotels in Jordan, not only in Amman but in Wadi Musa (Petra) and Aqaba as well. It is yet to be seen whether there will be any other attacks in the next few hours.
My guess is that there will be no more attacks on hotels in the near future. The surprise is over and the damage done.
The real damage will not be physical or personal, although the loss of life is to be greatly mourned. The real target of these attacks is the Jordanian government and the nation's economy which depends on tourism as the largest share of its national income each year.
No doubt that left-wing Democrats will be quick to blame President Bush for these attacks, arguing that they are in direct response to the American "invasion" and "occupation" of Iraq.
Such critics will only reveal themselves as ill-informed as to the larger picture these attacks were designed to play in the arena of world opinion.
Unfortunately, I believe that the terrorists, with the tacit support of the ignorant and ideologically blinded American news media, will score a great triumph from these attacks.
The country of Jordan, which has been one of the few voices of Arab moderation, must be supported in every way possible.
Our anger must be directly channeled to those who have so brazenly destroyed life and limb and so much more besides.
As a nation in a world under seige, we should in no way dilute our anger by shifting it to anyone other than the terrorists themselves.
At the moment news reports are that at least 27 people have been killed in what have been described as "suicide bombings." Earlier reports that indicated that a suitcase exploded suggests that there might be some other explanation as to the source of the explosions. No one so far has claimed credit for the attacks.
There are many other American-owned hotels in Jordan, not only in Amman but in Wadi Musa (Petra) and Aqaba as well. It is yet to be seen whether there will be any other attacks in the next few hours.
My guess is that there will be no more attacks on hotels in the near future. The surprise is over and the damage done.
The real damage will not be physical or personal, although the loss of life is to be greatly mourned. The real target of these attacks is the Jordanian government and the nation's economy which depends on tourism as the largest share of its national income each year.
No doubt that left-wing Democrats will be quick to blame President Bush for these attacks, arguing that they are in direct response to the American "invasion" and "occupation" of Iraq.
Such critics will only reveal themselves as ill-informed as to the larger picture these attacks were designed to play in the arena of world opinion.
Unfortunately, I believe that the terrorists, with the tacit support of the ignorant and ideologically blinded American news media, will score a great triumph from these attacks.
The country of Jordan, which has been one of the few voices of Arab moderation, must be supported in every way possible.
Our anger must be directly channeled to those who have so brazenly destroyed life and limb and so much more besides.
As a nation in a world under seige, we should in no way dilute our anger by shifting it to anyone other than the terrorists themselves.
posted by Bird of Paradise at 11:31 AM
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