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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (224648)	3/19/2007 2:07:58 AM
From: epicure	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 281500

Here you go Miss. Now what have you been right about?: Jordan Braces for WAR, Fears Break-Up of IRAQ Reuters Saturday, December 28, 2002; 8:49 PM By Suleiman al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan, a major regional ally of Washington, said on Saturday it was bracing for a probable U.S. led WAR against IRAQ and expressed fears that this could lead to the break-up of its powerful eastern neighbor. "There is a very large chance of a military strike against IRAQ and the chances of avoiding WAR are very marginal," Foreign Minister Marwan al-Muasher told reporters in a meeting arranged by the local press syndicate. Echoing widespread domestic worries about IRAQ's break-up in a post-WAR conflict, Muasher said the kingdom's interests would not be served by its eastern neighbor's disintegration. "We again insist on IRAQ's territorial integrity. IRAQ should not be divided and we are against any intervention or its break-up into statelets," he said. Jordanian decision-makers voice alarm that a possible outcome of a U.S. military invasion of its eastern Arab neighbor would be CIVIL WAR and strife in multi-ethnic IRAQ. Officials are worried this would reverberate across the region, sowing domestic instability in Arab countries such as Jordan where anti-U.S. sentiment is strong. Muasher insisted the kingdom, a key U.S. regional ally wedged between Israel to the west and IRAQ to the east, would not offer facilities for U.S. troops in any possible IRAQi conflict. "Jordanian territory will not be used either to attack or as a launching pad against IRAQ," Muasher said. But officials privately say Jordan, which has been reWARded with hefty economic and military aid for its pro-U.S. policies, could be used as a search and rescue base in any future military operations in eastern IRAQ. Muasher emphasized his country's growing dependence on U.S. aid which topped $450 million this year. Washington's support of a landmark free trade accord with his country was critical to reviving its fragile economy, he added. Senior officials told Reuters they were assured of an additional aid package by Washington to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars to offset the damage of WAR on its aid dependent economy. Jordan relies on cheap IRAQi oil that saves the economy at least $300 million. Leading businesses have extensive trade ties with IRAQ, the country's main trading partner. JORDAN TO HELP EASE REFUGEE CRISIS Although Jordan was ready to help in international efforts to deal with a future refugee crisis in the wake of conflict, Amman was adamant it would not open its doors to any IRAQis. "Jordan will not run away from its commitments toWARd refugees from a humanitarian angle but will not allow IRAQi refugees on its soil," Muasher added. He said contingency plans on handling a refugee crisis were being coordinated with humanitarian relief organizations. "We are preparing for this without any commitments being borne by us," he added. Amman would lend logistical help to relief bodies send food and essentials to IRAQ through its borders, officials say. © 2002 Reuters washingtonpost.com