The New York Times reported on a new phenomenon boiling out of Jordan after five months of unnecessary conflict hitting that country and its U.S. military bases. Hundreds of Jordanian political, legal and other figures signed an open letter last week calling for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Jordan, the Times reported, calling this “a rare public challenge to the government, which has long cracked down on free speech and dissent.”
“We maintain that their presence exposes Jordan to security, political, and economic risks that serve no national interest and increases the likelihood of our country being dragged into a regional conflict to which it is not a party,” the letter said.
According to one signer, 90-year-old activist Sufyan al-Tell, hundreds more Jordanians have added their names since the letter was initially circulated. “We as Jordanian people do not accept the politics of the government and its exploitation of Jordan and its capabilities in one way or another to defend Israel,” said Mr. al-Tell.
