Violent protests in Syria, Bahrain, Yemen -- and now Jordan

Christian Science Monitor ^ | March 25, 2011 | Nicholas Seeley

[SunkenCiv]

Roughly 100 people were injured in Amman protests as Jordan -- perhaps emboldened by the lack of retribution suffered by other US allies -- became the latest Arab country to crack down hard.

Jordan today became the latest Arab country to adopt violent repression as its response to protest -- inspired, perhaps, by seeing similar tactic used by US allies like Bahrain and Yemen with little retribution from Washington.

This afternoon, police shut down a major protest camp in Amman, using water cannons. Mubarak-style thugs, widely believed to be hired by the regime, attacked the protesters with sticks and stones. Local news sources are reporting one death and nearly 100 injured.

"It was a disaster," says Fakher Daas, a leader from Jordan's Popular Unity Party who was in the camp. "They surrounded us from the four [sides], thugs and policemen and darak [riot police]. ... Thugs were throwing stones from high buildings. ... We ran away, but there was nowhere to run."

Later, there were multiple eyewitness reports of police surrounding hospitals and arresting patients or those trying to enter...

Has Jordan been learning by example? Since the new wave of Arab revolutions started, Middle East scholars have warned that the US response to one country's crisis could shape how the others developed...

For Jordan, the crackdown will have serious consequences. It was only Tuesday that the country made its first significant move towards reform, bringing together a fragile coalition to propose changes to the law and the constitution...

That coalition may already be shattered, Daas says, as members withdraw in protest at the violence. "This government is not interested in reform, it's only interested in thugs."

[SunkenCiv]

G’night all!

Uprisings in Syria and Jordan Create New Concerns For the US
http://dingo.care2.com/pictures/c2c/share/27/275/590/2759056_431.jpg
http://www.care2.com/causes/politics/blog/uprisings-in-syria-and-jordan-create-new-concerns-for-the-us/

Minister: Jordan to try 21 protesters
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1628899.php/Minister-Jordan-to-try-21-protesters

Jordan’s Islamists urge government to resign
http://www.sify.com/news/jordan-s-islamists-urge-government-to-resign-news-international-ld1hudjhagh.html

More bloodshed in Bahrain; revolts spread through Libya, Kuwait, Yemen and Jordan
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2011/02/18/2011-02-18_more_bloodshed_in_bahrain_revolts_spread_through_libya_kuwait_yemen_and_jordan.html

How much time will Obama waste trying to engage Syria?
James Kirchick
Sunday, February 28th 2010, 4:00 AM
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/02/28/2010-02-28_how_much_time_will_obama_waste_trying_to_engage_syria.html

[mlocher]

Mubarak-style thugs, widely believed to be hired by the regime, attacked the protesters with sticks and stones.

Sticks and stones?! LOL!

[NoLibZone]

A weak US President creates a chaotic world.

Obama is now the single worst US President.

One level below LBJ.

[Niuhuru]

Pity that it all depends on who is President of the US to determine the state of the rest of the world.

[maine-iac7]

hard-core anarchist rioters after 500,000-strong London march against government cuts ends in violence

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1370053/The-battle-Trafalgar-Square-Police-struggle-control-rioters-500-000-strong-London-march-cuts-ends-violence.html#ixzz1Hlv7YJ00

interesting little clip

http://storify.com/jordimiquel/26march-london-against-government-cuts?awesm=sfy.co_3UU&&&&;

[Just A Nobody]

Who lost China?

Who lost Iran?

Who lost the entire Mid-East? Barry did...Barry did!

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

He and his cadres are trying to do to the US what the bagwan did to “Rajneeshpuram”.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks maine-iac7.

[Niuhuru]

Ugh. I’m thankful we’ll be able to extract him next year.

[SunkenCiv]

I dunno, maybe we need *another* four years of Obama to make sure America is sick of leftists and puts the new Reagan in office. ;’)

[Niuhuru]

Another four years would utterly purge liberalism from this country, as it is. Hollywood would end up getting crucified and then the professors railed against and then, then, genuine reform would come through. Another four years of Obama would end up also reforming the Republican party, with the wish washy ones purged utterly from the party and new fresh candidates coming up wiht actual grit.