His Majesty King Abdullah II
Interview on CNN "Late Edition" with Wolf Blitzer
July 18, 2004
Wolf Blitzer: Your Majesty, thanks very much for joining us. Welcome back to
“Late Edition.” Let's get right to a key issue at hand. Is Jordan prepared at
this point to dispatch troops to Iraq, your neighbour, in order to help this new
interim government?
HM King Abdullah: Well, Wolf, as I've always said, I don't think that Jordan is the
right country, nor any of the countries that surround Iraq, because I believe
that we can't work with transparency. We would all have sort of personal
agendas. Therefore, I don't think that we are the right people, morally, to
commit to Iraqi security. But at the same time, this Iraqi government needs 110
per cent support from all of us in the international community. So when the
question was asked as a theoretical, if the Iraqi government was to ask of our
support, it would be difficult for us to say no, even though I don't think we
are the right people.
Blitzer: Well, I'm still a little bit confused. Why wouldn't Jordan be
appropriate? You have good relations with the new prime minister, Iyad Allawi.
This is a neighbour of yours. You want to see stability and security in Iraq as
much as anyone.
HM King Abdullah: Absolutely, and you know, from a practical point of view, you know, we
want to be there to share in the dangers that Iraq is going through. The
question really isn't that. We have our troops committed in Afghanistan and in
hot spots all over the world. But we also have a history with Iraq, as does
Syria, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. So the question morally is: Would
it be difficult for us to help the Iraqis by committing troops and not stay out
of internal politics? And I thought that there are countries further away that
would be better suited than Jordan.
Blitzer: The prime minister, Iyad Allawi, today authorised the US-led military
force to go after what's being described as a safe house of Abu Mussab Zarqawi,
the terrorist operating in Iraq in Fallujah. Supposedly 12 people, including
some women and children, were killed. Do you support these kinds of offensive
actions that are designed to go after Abu Mussab Zarqawi?
HM King Abdullah: Well, I think that in counterterrorism and intelligence community, as
opposed to sitting back and waiting for the terrorist to hit you, you have to go
after them. Now, the style and the manner that you do that, obviously when
there's collateral damage, then that's something that should be reviewed. But to
take the fight to the terrorists? Yes, I think that is correct, and one that
should be pursued. But again, sort of laser-guided bombs into buildings that
might affect citizens and innocent people, you have to be very careful how you
make those judgements.
Blitzer: A question on Saddam Hussein and his trial that is scheduled at some
point down the road. As you know, two of his daughters are still in Amman,
Jordan, where you are right now. Several of his lawyers have been based in Amman
as well. Do you have confidence in the Iraqi justice system, that they will be
able to do a fair job with Saddam Hussein?
HM King Abdullah: I think we have to give the benefit of the doubt to the new Iraqi
government. Again, as I said, I've been thoroughly impressed by the president,
the prime minister and many of the ministers that have been brought into
positions of authority there. And I believe that, you know, this is the period
where Iraq strengthens its institutions, and obviously the judicial one is one
of the main important ones. And I do hope that we do give this government the
benefit of the doubt, that they will abide by the rule of law, and justice will
be served.
Blitzer: Ahmed Chalabi has come under some criticism, significant criticism here
in the United States. He's wanted in Jordan for corruption, for scandals. What
is your current thinking of Ahmed Chalabi right now?
HM King Abdullah: Well, I think that you'll see from coalition statements and the interim
government more allegations of improprieties and corruption linked to Ahmed
Chalabi. He has always contested the problem with Jordan as being a political
one, and that's never been the case. It's been a judicial one. He embezzled
people's funds, not government funds. The same happened in Lebanon and elsewhere
in the world. And I think that it's becoming more and more clear to those in
Iraq that there is a big question mark over Chalabi's head, and it's not
directed because of Chalabi and Jordan, it's because of Chalabi himself.
Blitzer: Do you have confidence in Palestinian Authority President Yasser
Arafat, who is facing a major crisis right now, the resignation of his prime
minister, Ahmed Qureia?
HM King Abdullah: Well, I really do hope that the prime minister doesn't resign, because it
would only weaken the institution, at a time where we really need to be able to
move on security, where Arafat has to deal with the Israelis and the Egyptians
and, obviously part of the roadmap, to bring in the new security phase that is
necessary for the roadmap to move forward. If the prime minister, as part of
what we hope is the new institutions of government in the Palestinian society,
has handed in his resignation, then we're running out of candidates - Abu Mazen,
a very capable man, had tried, had given up. If Abu Alaa gives up on Monday, as
is a possibility, then this will be a serious blow to all of us that are trying
to push the process forward, and I think will reflect very negatively on
President Arafat himself.
Blitzer: It looks like almost anarchy is breaking out in Gaza, in the midst of
an Israeli plan to withdraw unilaterally over the next year or so.
HM King Abdullah: And this is why institutions of Palestinian government need to be
strengthened, and President Arafat and the Palestinian government need to be
able to tackle these issues of building institutions as quickly as possible. And
I think that maybe what's happening — a street reaction will hopefully be a
wake-up call to many of those in Palestinian institutions of government that
they need to address these problems and address them now.
Blitzer: A final question on Iran. There is a 9/11 commission report that's
going to be coming out shortly, suggesting that at least eight, maybe 10 of the
hijackers of 9/11 passed through Iran at some point on their way to the United
States. Is Iran part of this Al Qaeda network as far as Jordanian information is
concerned?
HM King Abdullah: I would find that very surprising. This is the first that I've heard that
there were 9/11 findings that linked Iran to some of the hijackers. This is new
to me. And I'm sorry I don't have any answers. Initially, I would say I find
that very, very surprising. But I don't have any more information to go on at
this moment.
Blitzer: Fair enough. Now, Your Majesty, thanks very much for joining us. Always
good to have you back here on CNN and “Late Edition.”
HM King Abdullah: Thank you, Wolf.