His Majesty King Abdullah II
Interview with HM King
Abdullah II by Le Figaro,
Charles Lambroschini
King Abdullah of Jordan: Elections are not
possible in Iraq today
September 28, 2004
Le Figaro: This is the great turnaround of the Americans. They are now
ready for an international conference to be held on Iraq — an idea, which was
proposed by France and Russia in April 2003. What do you make of it??
His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan: It is Iraqi prime minister Iyad
Allaoui who is seeking this international conference. So we will support
whatever the Iraqi government wants to do, we will support whatever suits the
Iraqis.
In theory, elections are due to be held in January. Seen from Washington, they
would represent the first stage towards normalization in Iraq. But would it be
possible to hold elections while almost autonomous republics are being formed
which, as in the case of Falluja, are out of the Central government control and
while the resistance strikes everyday at the heart of Baghdad?
Prime Minister Allaoui is fully determined to meet this January deadline.
However, as an outside observer, it seems to me that organizing incontestable
elections under the chaotic conditions that presently dominate the scene in Iraq
is simply not possible. Elections could be held within the planned framework
only if the present situation were to improve, God willing.
Wouldn’t the credibility of these elections be also dependent on the
political equilibrium they would establish between the Shiite majority and the
Sunnite minority? If the imbalance is too pronounced, would it be possible to
stop the ongoing war?
If the elections were to be held under the present chaotic conditions, the most
organized faction would be that of the extremists. The ballot outcome will only
reflect this advantage to the favor of the extremists. With such a scenario,
there would be absolutely no chance of any improvement in the situation.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield has just stated that that it would be
possible for elections to be held in the most peaceful or Iraqi regions.
Wouldn’t this approach simply mean putting the Sunnites out of the way - since
their regions are the most tumultuous - and to consecrate the country’s division
as a result?
This is a major cause of concern to us. Frankly, I sincerely hope that security
would improve so that elections could be held, but all over Iraq as a whole.
What are Iraq’s chances of coming out from this state of chaos?
The situation is very, very difficult. In the immediate future, I do not foresee
any chances of improvement .As you were saying, chaos is master on the streets;
every other day, new agitators filter through frontiers that are highly
difficult to control. The biggest challenge Prime minister Allaoui has to face
is restoring security.
But how will he do that?
Jordan’s position is crystal clear: There has to be a recall of the former Iraqi
army. Not the generals but the middle rank staff, the officers and the rank
officers who alone have the necessary staff numbers and potential to restore
order. The biggest mistake made by the Americans was to dissolve the security
forces and to purge the various administrations of hundreds of thousands of
Baath party members who were serving in them. The responsibility is imputable to
the emigrants, like Ahmad Chalabi, who, once back in Iraq on the backtrack of
the American army, thought that their best chance of imposing themselves
necessitated the immediate removal of all the old regime’s men. In the process,
nobody was left to impose law, respect and ensure the country’s stability.
When he assumed power in June, Prime minister Allawi announced a strategy
reflecting his determination to break down the resistance. He was counting on
bringing those people, who had supported Saddam, back to the national community
in order to intensify the struggle against those “God maniac” aliens coming from
abroad … Why wasn’t he successful?
The coalition forces did not allow him enough room for maneuvering. There was
too much interference in a strategy that is supposed to be an Iraqi affair in
the first place. Let us take, for example, the formation of the Iraqi police and
army. I have spent most of my life under the uniform and can assert that when
the formation is too hasty, the competency of the new recruits is affected.
Training must be lengthier in time and more intensive. I can understand that the
Iraqi government has an urgent need but if it insists only on quantity, it will
not get good quality.
What is then your advice to the Americans?
The only solution is to hasten the recalling of the experts of the former army.
Generally speaking, the quicker the old army is reconstituted, the better the
new army would be.
And on the political side?
On the political side as well. The Americans ought to give a greater margin of
freedom to Allaoui with respect to both the day to day management of policy and
the greater projects that would engage the country over a long period of time.
How do you explain that the United States, which provides Jordan with such
generous assistance and which is such a longtime friend and ally, is so badly
perceived within the Jordanian population? According to a recent poll carried
within your country, 87% of the population reported that they were
anti-Americans?
The explanation is quite simple: There is within the population an enormous
feeling of frustration. On their television screen, they see that the suffering
of the Palestinians at the hands of the Israelis is continually on the increase.
On the other frontier, they witness the sufferings of the Iraqis. In both cases,
they consider the Americans to be the culprits. Jordanians are angry because
they believe that Washington’s policy is systematically twisted against the
Arabs.
But the Arabs are not always lenient towards each other? What would you
say about Syria closing its eyes over the infiltration from Syrian territory
into Jordan of terrorists which who, according to your secret services, planned
to carry out a chemical assault in Jordan?
We have frequently raised this matter with the Syrian authorities and on this
particular subject, we enjoy the support of President Bashar. He has issued
strict directives to his secret services but we note that many individuals
continue to cross the borders and target the Jordanian security forces. The
political goodwill that seems to be coming out from Damascus has not translated
yet into concrete and visible action on the ground.
The Americans make the same reproaches towards the Syrians and the Iranians.
Washington accuses them of leaving theirs borders open to all the foreign
Islamists who want to strike at the “Crusaders”.
The flow of these clandestine fighters contributes to increase the instability
in Iraq. But they surely do not come from Jordan.
Nonetheless, Zarkaoui, the presumed head of Al Qaeeda in Iraq whom the American
army has been tracking for months, is a Jordanian citizen?
Zarkaoui began his life as a petty thug. He has discovered religion only quite
lately. In collaboration with Baghdad and the American forces, we are doing our
best to recover his tracks. I am keeping my hands crossed with the hope that one
day or another, the Iraqi government will end up catching him.
How do you view the Iranian maneuvers in Iraq?
With respect to Iran, the holy Shiite shrines located in Iraq and the enormous
weight of the Shiite community representing 60% of the Iraqi population,
constitute important political considerations. Consequently, Iran cannot remain
indifferent to what takes place in neighbouring Iraq. The Iranians have their
own interests at heart – as do each of their other neighbors.
You have been to Teheran on an official visit, the first by a Jordanian
monarch since the shah’s downfall in 1979. Do you visualize the mullahs regime
as opting finally for moderation or, getting so militant as to trying to
establish itself within the Middle East as the sole champion in the struggle
against Israel?
I have felt quite at ease with President Khatami. He is a sympathetic
personality who would like to direct the Iranian society towards the path of
moderation. However, within the regional environment, the Iranian authorities
feel they are threatened on several fronts. There is first the Iraqi crisis,
which extends to Iran and its other neighbors and is a matter of great concern.
Tehran fears also the ascent of Islamist extremists who are as worrisome for the
moderate Sunnites as they are for the Shiites. Al Qa’eda represents as much a
threat for them as it does for moderate Arabs. Finally, the animosity between
Iran and Israel is not about to fade out, especially at this time when Iran is
equipping itself with missiles that have a capacity for reaching targets in
Israel.
To judge by the precedent of the Iraqi reactor destruction in 1981, the Israelis
might not resist the temptation of proceeding to bomb Teheran’s nuclear
installations, with the possible benediction of Washington as well?
I do hope the Americans will restrain Israel from doing such a thing. If Iran is
subjected to a strike, it will strike back. Jordan is in between the two of
them. A raid against Iran will contribute to solving nothing, on the contrary,
it would only make our region more instable.
Does Jordan also run the risk of being destabilised by the threat of
fundamentalism?
It is the whole world that the Islamist extremists seek assiduously to
undermine. Jordan as much as France. We must all be on the alert and mutually
protect each other. Jordan is on the list of their targets; this is
unfortunately a characteristic of the Middle East. But believe me, we are far
from being passive in the face of these groups.
With respect to your country, it is the Moslem Brothers that are particularly
active. Nasser had interdicted them in Egypt. In Jordan , they have 18 deputies
sitting in parliament under the name of the Islamic Action Front. None the less,
the Muslim brothers are maintaining their pressure.
Historically, the Muslim brothers have always sought to push the limits of
things. But I myself, as well as the Jordanian government, consider that there
are lines which we will not allow them to cross. There is no question of
allowing any action outside the law. These lines are set by the constitution.
True, the Muslim Brothers have their deputies but they will always keep
complaining and demanding more.
Ariel Sharon is determined to evacuate Gaza. But in the West Bank,
population colonies continue to multiply raising the risk of turning the
Palestinian regions into a series of Bantustans. What would then remain of the
two, Israeli and Palestinian side by side state project?
If the leaders of the various Palestinian factions fail to unite, if they do not
succeed in agreeing on a strategy that would reactivate the peace process, you
would be right. For the first time, there would be reason to have doubts about
the two state solution. Because of their internal conflicts, the Palestinians
have fallen into the trap set to them by the Israelis. Those Israelis who keep
claiming they have no partner to negotiate peace with but who, on the other
hand, maintain their escalation of occupying Palestinian land and aggression
against the Palestinian people. Thus, unless the Palestinians decide to define a
genuine plan to build an independent and viable state, I am afraid there would
be no future for the Palestinians any more.
Is Yasser Arafat still in the game?
The choices for Arafat are simple: either he decides to reinforce the
Palestinian government institutions that is Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei and to
unify the security services under the single control of the Ministry of
Interior, or it is the Prime Minister who will do this on his behalf.
And then Yasser Arafat will go into exile …
But who will decide to send him into exile? I do not think the Israelis
will do that as he is the elected president of the Palestinian people. The
fundamental thing is to establish a Palestinian state. It is urgent that the
Palestinians organize themselves in order to secure such an objective.
What could a moderate Muslim like yourself do in order to convince the West that
Islam does not sum up into those outlaws who hold hostages and those
executioners who behead innocent people?
This requires that, among Muslims, the silent majority determinedly shouts back
“enough is enough.” The West denounces Muslim extremists. As far as I am
concerned, these extremists are not genuine Muslims. People of the Zarqaoui sort
cannot claim they belong to God. What they do is Satan’s work. This is why I
repeat again that Muslims should stand up to condemn these killers .They must
yell that assassinating hostages, killing children in the Caucasus are
atrocities that do not reflect the religion of Islam in any way.
As long as Ben Laden is not captured, how to convince the West that Islam
is not the enemy?
With respect to Westerners these days, maybe not all Muslims are terrorists but
all terrorists are Muslims. This is why there is a great risk of seeing the
average man in the Arab world and the average man in the West prepare for a war
of cultures. In reality, the first targets for Osama bin Laden are the moderate
Muslims. But in order for him to get control of Islam, he first wants to make
the East stand up against the West.