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February 1999 
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A SUCCINCT HISTORY OF THE "HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN"

J O R D A N I A N R E A L I T I E S

Hundreds of millions of dollars are being rushed to Jordan's Central Bank by Gulf monarchies, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Americans are also pledging to the new King Abdullah II additional monies, arms, intelligence cooperation and security guarantees. This in 1999. But Jordanian history begins closer to the beginning, rather than the end, of this century:

1916 - Secret Sykes-Pecot agreement between England and France carves up the Middle East into European spheres of influence at the same time the Arabs are being promised unity and independence.

1918 - Hussein the First sends son Feisal to the Paris Peace Conference. "The Peace to end all Peace" turns into a disaster for the Arabs. Outmanuvered by the European Powers Feisal goes to Damascus intent on pursuing broad Arab independence. In 1919 French forces expell Feisal from Damascus and take control of the Levant.

1920s - Winston Churchill (yes the same one who was PM in WWII) comforts the defeated Hashemite clan which had been working closely with the British since the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Hussein's sons are given thrones -- Feisal in Baghdad, Abdullah in Amman as the British divide their "Mandate" over Palestine into East and West Banks. The East Bank becomes TransJordan - "Across the Jordan". About the same time the British carve Kuwait out of Iraq to further weaken and divide the Arabs and help consolidate al-Saud rule in Arabia.

1930s - Abdullah begins his secret relationship with the Zionists leading to the secret plan in 1947 for Transjordan to annex what is today called the West Bank while Israel will be born as a separate "Jewish State".

1950s - Abdullah is assassinated by Palestinians in Jerusalem. Son Tallal is removed from throne by British intrique in favor of his teenage son Hussein, thought to be more compliant toward Western interests. Secret CIA contacts and payments begin with Hussein lasting until exposed in 1977.

1960s - Hussein begins secret contacts with Israeli leaders, providing them considerable intelligence information about other Arab parties, especially at the time of the 1967 and 1973 wars.

1970 - The Palestinians are defeated in Jordan civil war when Americans and Israelis rally to Hussein's side.

1980s - Hussein steps up secret contacts with Israelis urging them to abandon the idea that "Jordan is Palestine" and assuring them he can benefit their interests more than anyone else in the area. Hussein takes two important steps: establishing the image but not the reality of Jordanian democracy and formally abandoning Jordanian claims to the Palestinian territory now called the "West Bank" even though stepping up efforts to control and manipulate as best he can the Palestinians both in his Kingdom and under Israeli occupation.

1990s - Feeling threatened from within Hussein is unable to join U.S. intervention against Iraq; but soon complies with the American "New World Order" and works closely with Israelis to establish today's "Peace Process."

1999 - A combination of CIA-manipulation, palace intrique, and pressures from his American wife, Queen Noor, result in long-time Crown Prince Hassan being dumped in favor of Abdullah, son of Hussein's British wife. Abdullah II becomes King of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. And the likelihood is that Hamzeh, Hussein's youngest son from Noor, will soon be appointed Crown Prince; older son Ali being passed over not only because that is what Noor wants but because of personal problems including drug use.

See MER JORDAN MAGAZINE at: http://www.MiddleEast.Org/jordan.htm


 

 

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