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Is This the Real Reason We Sent U.S. Troops To Jordan?
Wednesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that America was sending troops to Jordan. Why? The reasons offered by Sec. Panetta were tied to the latest escalation of the violence between the rebels and the Assad regime in Syria. Panetta was speaking at a NATO conference in Brussels and specifically referenced a few justifications for this action:
- The security of Syria’s stock of chemical weapons.
- Rising numbers of refugees fleeing Syria and moving across the border into Jordan.
- To build a local headquarters for our troops in the region.
Panetta also said something that sparked a question about the possibility of other reasons behind the need to have American troops in Jordan:
“We have a group of our forces there working to help build a headquarters there and to insure that we make the relationship between the United States and Jordan a strong one so that we can deal with all the possible consequences of what’s happening in Syria.”
The phrase that caught our ear was — “to insure that we make the relationship between the United States and Jordan a strong one .”
The need for a solid connection to Jordan may be better illustrated by looking at where the country sits in the region.
Map Image: Geology.com
The map shows that Jordan’s borders touch Egypt, Israel, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. The location of Jordan could be viewed as strategically important to anyone hoping to have a hand in the stability of the region — and especially if someone had an interest in surrounding Israel.
Jordan is not a country with the energy reserves like many of her neighbors (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt). The US has been financially supporting Jordan for years. Last July it was reported that Washington promised $100 million in aid to assist Jordan with the flood of Syrian refugees. And this assistance is not new. Jordan has been averaging $450 million a year in US aid for quite some time.
Questions still remain:
- Why are we sending troops to Jordan?
- Why now? (the unrest has been raging for months)
- Is our money (estimated to be in the BILLIONS), not enough to stabilize the regime?
Could the answer be something different than the one being offered by Secretary Panetta? Several outlets are reporting that Jordan’s government is now being pressured by the Muslim Brotherhood.
ABC News in Australia claims that the Muslim Brotherhood has pressured the King to dissolve the parliament. Jordan’s nagging economic problems, worsened by the influx of refugees from Syria and the loss of needed gas supplies from Egypt have given power to the Muslim Brotherhood’s populist pitch.
Qantara, a German news outlet, called Jordan “A Small Kingdom With Big Problems” in their September 29th story on the growing unrest. The report closed by stating:
Despite the king’s far-reaching political powers, this popular support has strengthened the brotherhood’s determination to gain political influence and achieve fundamental constitutional reforms. It now intends to boycott the parliamentary elections planned for the end of the year. Viewed in this light, it seems as if the Muslim Brotherhood is attempting to stage its own little “Jordanian Spring”.
Russia Today (RT.com) has also pointed out the influence being brought to bear on Jordan’s king from the Muslim Brotherhood. In an article titled, “Arab Monarchies: Muslim Brotherhood source of all problems in Islamic world” RT reports:
The Jordanian wing of the Brotherhood urged the country’s leadership to undertake reforms that would result in the monarchy losing political power. Abdullah II conceded, allowing changes to the procedure by which the country forms a government, with more privileges granted to the electoral winners. The Brotherhood criticized the move as insufficient, and called on their supporters to protest.
Debka.com has also been sounding the alarm on the alleged pressure on King Abdullah from the Muslim Brotherhood. Their latest post on the story called “Jordan a Kingdom ‘on the brink’” and stressed “Muslim Brothers mobilize for King Abdullah’s overthrow.” Debka wondered which side America’s leader was supporting in Jordan.
President Barack Obama has a balancing act to resolve: On the one hand, the Jordanian king has long been a staunch American ally and friend, its mainstay in many regional crises. On the other, Obama regards the Muslim Brotherhood as the linchpin of his external policy of outreach to the Muslim world.
Debka’s pointing out of the balancing act lead me back to the State Department and our official stance on Jordan. The State Department website outlines the relationship here:
The United States deeply values its long history of cooperation and friendship with Jordan, with which it established diplomatic relations in 1949. The United States appreciates the special leadership role that Jordan plays in advancing peace and moderation in the region. The United States and Jordan share the mutual goals of a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East and an end to violent extremism that threatens the security of Jordan, the region, and the entire globe.
It would certainly be interesting to hear the White House answer which side of the Jordan tug-of-war America (and our military) is supporting.
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Comments (73)
Watermain
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:16pmSo now we have troops in Jordan that the administration will not supply adequately, not let them fire at people shooting at them and may not let them carry live ammunition. Why doesn’t the president, if he even knows that the troops are in Jordan, just go ahead and announce when we will be bringing them home?
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sillyfreshness
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:40pmAh yes. The never ending war for America. These endless entanglements during an economic depression are draining the American treasury. It will be a double whammy. A Muslim caliphate in the Middle East and America in economic ruins left unable to stop anything.
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Mutiny
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 4:44pmJust think if we had a nominee running right now that believed in asking congress for permission to send troops into harms away. Not only would the objective be set, but a time table and cost would be outlined and voted on.
No matter who wins in November, we all lose.
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shakedowncrews
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 4:56pmBeautifully said.
more of our brave soldiers being set up as targets in a turkey shoot.
disgusting.
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lillymckim
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 5:22pmI have been saying we will be in boots on the ground in Syria before the election and everyone tells me I’m wrong. I feel I’m very correct.
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Melvin Spittle
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:14pmWe may have our own oil, but many other of our allies do not. Once the Muslim Brotherhood controls global oil trade, they will leverage their will through our trading partners. The goal is to bring our economy to collapse. We can be energy independent, but still be crushed if we have no nation to trade with other than Canada.
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Watermain
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:43pmWe can always trade with our neighbor to the south. They have lots of exports that we need. No, illegal immigrants are not legitimate exports…
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resme
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:10pmGoodbye Petrodollar.
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Cavallo
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:06pmIs there a country that we do not have troops? Would that list be far shorter than the one in which we do?
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Watermain
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:18pmIt seems like pretty soon we won’t have any troops left in America to send overseas. Wait a minute, there won’t be anybody to defend the homeland. I had better call MSNBC and alert them to this possibility.
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Diane TX
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:05pmIt’s clear to me that Obama WANTS Islamic domination in the Middle East. Let’s seriously ask Obama about that ring he wears.
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thegreatcarnac
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:05pmKing Abdullah has been our friend for years. Maybe not our best friend but our friend non-the-less. So was Mubarrak in Egypt. The Shah of Iran was our friend when Carter cut his throat (figuratively) and sided with the Ayotollah. Obama is another Carter but worse. He is more blatant. Obama should have come down on the side of Barrack and the Egyptian military in the ‘Arab spring’ movement there. Carter (obama’s white brother) should have stood by Mubarak and Obama should stand by King Abdullah. Obama will not. Obama is a radical muslim so he will help the brotherhood. How sad. Elections make a difference. Obama should never have come to 2000 feet of the oval office.
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thegreatcarnac
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:19pm“should have come down on the side of Mubarrak” (not barrack)…..Da*n mulsim crap names..
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Elena2010
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 7:25pmAnd Abdullah II is a decent human being unlike some of the other leaders in the muslim world.
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Melvin Spittle
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:04pm“to insure that we make the relationship between the United States and Jordan a strong one .”
That is a statement that intentionally refers to Jordan as opposed to their government. The current administration is looking to position troops early to support the Arab Spring uprising. Once the Muslim Brotherhood has completed their initial goals, they will use oil trade to cripple us. They will have control over Iranian and Pakistani nuclear arms and will be able to enforce a punishing trade policy.
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Elena2010
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 7:27pmThey will NOT be able to control Iran’s weapons. Iran is Shi’ite while MB is staunchly Sunni. They hate one another as apostates. They will coordinate only to damage non-muslims.
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Melvin Spittle
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:54pmI’m sure we will send a token force that will be there to support the Arab Spring of removing Jordan’s king and installing the Muslim Brotherhood through a “democratic” election. The force we send will be there to support the popular uprising and be pawns for the Muslim Brotherhood.
Obama was wrong to support the Arab Spring and if reelected we will see the Arab Spring dominoes fall:
Syria will fall to the Muslim Brotherhood
Jordan will fall to the Muslim Brotherhood
Israel will be invaded from all sides after Iran’s nuclear goal is reached
Saudi Arabia will fall to the Muslim Brotherhood
Pakistan will cut diplomatic ties with the US
Libya will fall to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Iraq will fall to the Muslim Brotherhood: Post US withdrawal will result in a murderous purge of “collaborators”. This will happen no matter who is elected US president.
Afghanistan will fall to the Taliban: Post US withdrawal will result in a murderous purge of “collaborators”. This will happen no matter who is elected US president.
A global caliphate is quickly forming an Islamic theocracy. This is Obama’s innermost dream come true.
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Jaycen
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:09pmYou nailed it. We’ll be in a position to lead the Muslim Brotherhood overthrow from the FRONT, this time, as opposed to how we lead from behind in Lybia.
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jman-6
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 4:29pmI agree and as for the outcome of Israel where I believe Isaiah 17 & Psalm 83 will unfold before our very eyes (if the LORD tarries), and the amount of force Israel must use to defend herself will be a little to much for the world to agree with, and in turn the US will sever all ties with Israel! GOD SPEED our redemption is at hand!
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thibx
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:51pmi think it’s a good ideal. could not have come from oboma he is with the muslim brotherhood. i think they should have had a long term base in iraq. just to let these sob know do not touch israel.
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Secret Squirrel
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:50pm.
Here’s my Middle East strategy.
“Drill, baby, drill.”
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Solidspine
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:07pmThat is a good one, actually the best I have seen
no real reason for the middle east, just the oil,
get rid of the muslims and take the oil.
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Yeah_Buddy
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 4:38pmYeah can’t we just tap into our own oil and other energy resources (i.e. Energy Strategy), get natrual gas fired cars/trucks online and let Israel deal with Iran?
The minute we have a feasible energy plan in place, oil/gasoline prices will drop like a rock.
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jamesctheman
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:50pmI think this is more. The first thing to do is prop up the royals who we’ve backed in the middle east & try to help keep them stable. By doing this we keep our ability to operate in the region. This is also an advanced buffer zone for possible incoming fire and or direct action against Iran towards Israel. This is basically a wall that’s almost finished. The only section really is Iraq/Syria. This poses limitations on the Iranian regime about where they can fire missiles in reprisal. I think they got to the party late on just how dangerous the muslim brotherhood actually is. I’d call them the terrorist version of the Masons…
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Capt_Gregg
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:33pmIf you think this move is to prop up the royal family of Jordan, think again. What relatively secular government in the ME has this administration supported against a Muslim Brotherhood uprising? What is its stance toward Israel? (Its REAL stance — not Obama’s “We’ve got Israel’s back” bullcrap.) Obama desperately wants Israel destroyed and an Islamic rule over the ME.
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Secret Squirrel
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:48pm.
I’m sick of hearing why we should have troops in…….
We had to free, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Egypt, and now Jordan?
If Panetta and Obama love the muslim brotherhood so much, go yourself.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over
and expecting different results.
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:47pmMuslim Brotherhood and Islam Radicals control
Tunisia
Libya
Egypt
Seek to gain control:
Syria
Lebanon
Jordan
Iran controls or seeks to control via proxies:
Lebanon (part)
Syria (part)
Iraq (growing)
Add into this a joining of Turkey, Algeria and Morocco, and then with the elimination of Israel, you have the Caliphate restored.
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Popp40
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:53pmAnd how many times has the Muslim Brotherhood been to the White House?
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GENEPAGLIARI
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:10pmIsrael will not be destroyed. God will intervene. Bible says so.
Israel has to be under such duress that she can only be saved by the one and only God.
So it is written and so it will be.
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Zcat
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:42pmEgypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Chief Declares Time To Wage “Holy Jihad” Against The Jews, “Raise The Banner Of Jihad”…
http://weaselzippers.us/2012/10/11/egypts-muslim-brotherhood-chief-declares-time-to-wage-holy-jihad-against-the-jews-raise-the-banner-of-jihad/
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thibx
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:03pmthese sob’s the devils children. they talk about how bad the jew is i’ve never heard of a damn thing the jew has done to them. they are pissed because God chose the jew. since day 1 the devil has tried to get rid of Gods chosen. i would go over there and fight with israel.
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Bum thrower
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:36pmThis is part of the ‘revised strategy’ of ‘W’. You have established ‘staging areas’ that you can swell in size quickly; They have them in Poland and maybe other locations.
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grimmster
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:35pmSo encinom, if republicans are warmongers,how do you explain this?……….odumbass is trying his best to put American troops in harms way,and use them to further the ***** bro. hood agenda,and of course his agenda as well……
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chips1
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:35pmSounds like Obama is using our money to finance the muslim brotherhood takeover of Jordan. “CHECKMATE”.
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floridareader
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:43pmExactly what I thought.
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jcldwl
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:45pmAgreed
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:48pmConsider something else as well, the Muslim Brotherhood is gaining in power, Syria – Turkey is heating up, we have troops about to commence wargames with Israel and now many are in Jordan…
Can anyone else smell a pre-election rat besides me?
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Walkabout
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:34pmIf you didn’t hear about the Muslim Bortherhood problems in Jordan a month ago, then you are getting your news from the wrong place. It might be argued that you are not getting news.
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Meyvn1
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:34pmWatch!
Daniel 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
Closely.
Read all of Chapter 11 to get the full context. It will be worth watching.
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Elena2010
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 7:30pmJordan sits where Moab once was. The southern most parts of Jordan also cover where Edom once lived.
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DumpBarack
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:33pmLies is all you will here from Hussein.
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Individualism
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:30pmObama’s 2nd violation of the war powers act after he bombed libya without approval of congress, please support congressman walter jones bill to impeach him.
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chips1
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:37pmYour endorsement just cost him a whole lot of votes.
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Fubared
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:45pmHoly mackerel! This is an historic and momentous occasion. On 11oct12 @ 1330 hrs, Windy had a lucid comment. Wonders never cease. Look at Windy going all adult! You go Windy.
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SquidVetOhio
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:51pmNot that I’m defending Obama, but how is sending troops into Jordan a violation of the War Powers Act? I figured you would be the expert since you’re calling everyone stupid and illiterate with the obligatory anti-semitic “neo-con” we’ve come to expect from Gary Johnson/Ron Paul supporters.
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13th Imam
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:59pmWindy You are a sweet talker.
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Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:23pm@Squid,
You’re right. It’s not. HOWEVER, he had 60 days to engage congress (90 if in writing). He passed both of those deadlines without fulfilling the duties of the POTUS under the war powers act.
I’ll wager that if he wins re-election that he’ll do the same in Jordan.
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ronin_6
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 3:23pmIf I could I would.
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Fubared
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 5:18pmWindy
Buy more commas, and for the love of Paul’s Johnson be careful standing up too fast with that 4 foot bong.
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Elena2010
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 7:32pmSquid — they are not there to conduct combat ops (yet). In Libya, we did participate in combat.
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jackact
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:30pmThose of us that choose to remain engaged know that Saudi Arabia is the last piece of the puzzle in order for the Muslim brotherhood to establish their caliphate.
In lightening speed all that we predicted has materialized.
The Arab Spring has not sprung.
Disaster looms.
Do you feel protected and safe?
Does your federal government provide you with the security that is constitutionally guaranteed?
Ok, then you know what to do on Nov. 6th.
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tipofthespear42
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:01pmAmen jack!!
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JethroUSMC
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:28pmI knew something about this last year. Think joint task force. Sort of a jump point if things go south elsewhere. It shouldn’t be difficult to dig a bit deeper.
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DMD
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:27pmDoes this make the Nobel Peace Prize winner a 4 war whore?
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RightUnite
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:31pmMmmm Hmmmmm….
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DAYWATCHER
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:32pmYes…. Yes it does….
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razhunter100
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:45pmyep…4 wars that are called…the other bs going on in africa is called covert ops.
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term limits for congress
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:25pmWhatever the reason, we’ll never hear the truth from this administration.
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tipofthespear42
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:55pm@term: Not in OUR lifetime! If EVER!! He is indoctrenating OUR children and teaching FALSE HISTORY!! That is why many many of us have decided to HOME-SCHOOL our children until we can hit our OWN “RE-SET BUTTON – BACK 6 YRS at least!!
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riseandshine
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 3:58pmI miss the Bush years…when we could count on the truth being told to us.
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