Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah

Interview with Her Majesty Queen Rania
with ABC News - Good Morning America

November 11, 2005
Amman, Jordan

Diane Sawyer: - (Off Camera) Your Majesty, we thank you again so much for being with us. We have seen the pictures of you in the hospital, the tears of the children, and of the mothers who lost children, and your tears.

(Voice Over) Americans feel profound anger as well. Do you?

Her Majesty Queen Rania:  - Thank you so much, Diane, for that sentiment. Yes. I mean, the shock and the sorrow, it's just unbelievable. You know, we never, we knew that no country is immune to this kind of thing and we knew that, you know, we are vulnerable like every other country in the world. You know, terrorism is, is, is global, it's not related to any - particular country, but still, when it happens, it's still very shocking and very sad. And, and, you know, these victims, they have, they have - they're completely innocent. They had nothing to do with anything and yet they are the ones who always pay the ultimate price.

Diane Sawyer: (Voice Over) Abu Musab al Zarqawi is Jordanian. He targeted his own country.

Diane Sawyer: (Off Camera) Who is this man?

Her Majesty Queen Rania: I mean, I think when it comes to this kind of individual, I don't think nationality means anything. I think it's more of an ideology, an ideology of terror, of, of extremism, of brutality. I think it knows no boundaries. I think it's all in their minds. And, yes, who is this man? Who is this man that would not just target his own country, but who just takes such innocent lives and justify it. You know, there's no, there is no logical or rationale behind this and no one should even try to give any kind of explanation or, or credence to this, these kinds of acts.

Diane Sawyer: (Off Camera) There is assumption in America that this has to do with the Iraq war and that, in part, Jordan is targeted because of its association with the United States. I wonder if you think that true. And you have also said of the Iraq war that the Iraqi people do need to know where they're heading, that obviously, at the end of the day, if you have strangers in your country, you view them with suspicion. Is this because of Iraq and the United States of America?

Her Majesty Queen Rania: Again, I don't want to go into any explanation as to why such, such an event happened because this event, what happened is just completely senseless. And trying to bring - any kind of explanation or, or justification would only be giving it credence and we should never do that. My husband, as you know, King Abdullah, has pursued the, has been working very hard for peace in our region. Now, the situation in Iraq, yes, it is unstable and unfortunately when you have a situation like this, this is, there's a lot of anger and frustration which people like Zarqawi's people can use as fuel for their own ideology in order to spread it. Plus the fact that there's no security on the ground there, means that it is an open field for them to recruit and to carry on their activities. Having said that, I think it is time for us to stop talking about, you know, you know, you know, passing the blame on what's happening in Iraq, but really try to focus on the future.

Diane Sawyer: (Off Camera) On personal terms, when you woke up this morning, did you wake up to a new day of concern for your family? Of concern for your country?

Her Majesty Queen Rania: I woke up with a heavy heart, you know, just remembering the, the, my interaction with the people yesterday. You know, feeling what they were feeling, the hurt, the sense of loss. But I also woke up with a sense of determination and strength and optimism, just knowing that there is such a feeling of unity in Jordan, that there's, there's such a clear vision for us and that we know where we're going.

Diane Sawyer: (Off Camera) Your children range from 11 years old to nine months old.

Diane Sawyer: (Voice Over) Have you gathered the older ones together to tell them what this is? What did you say to them?

Her Majesty Queen Rania: You know, I said to them that, you know, it is so unfortunate that this should happen to our extended Jordanian family, that these victims (audio lost). But that, you know, we have to be careful and that these people who do these kinds of acts, it is absolutely wrong. Every Jordanian today feels that he is a public security officer. You know, we all know that we have a role to play - in defeating these kinds of people.

Diane Sawyer: (Off Camera) Your Majesty, again, thank you for joining us. Thank you so much on this morning of all mornings. Thank you.

Her Majesty Queen Rania: Thank you so much, Diane. And thank you so much for your sentiments.
 


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