Jordan is facing the worst economic crisis in recent history, a crisis that combines foreign debt, budget deficits, falling foreign currency reserves and pressure on the dinar. This is unprecedented in Jordan's history, and is worse that the crisis of 1988, when Jordan defaulted on its foreign debts. Nevertheless, one trait the Jordanians have is their fondness for ‘showing off'. They do not see that their country is extremely poor in natural resources, with no oil or water, save for ‘a little' phosphate. Yet the Jordanians chant “Jordan, Jordan, Jordan" as Japan beats their national team 6-nil in a football match, without Japan's team being a big name in football. The difference between reality and dreams, and between ambition and ability, is highlighted by the fact that four successive governments have come and gone in 15 months, under Prime Ministers Samir Rifai, Marouf Bakhit, Awn al-Khasawneh, and now Fayez Tarawneh. Perhaps we can also add to them five Justice Ministers in seven months, who are Ibrahim Amoush, Hussein Majali, Salim Al Zoubi, Ibrahim al-Jazi, and Khalifa Sulaiman (the current minister). Jordan has been my country since I became aware of the world, and will remain so until I depart it. However, I have the professional ability to not let my emotions cloud my judgment. Therefore, I say in all possible objectivity that Jordan is strong and lasting, and there is no danger whatsoever posed to the regime even with the change taking place in the traditional loyalties in the country. Indeed, those who were satisfied are not anymore, and those who weren't have become satisfied now. In the same sense of objectivity, I say that the natives in Jordan happen to be the people of East Jordan, or the known authentic and honorable Arab tribes, the mainstay of the country who have remarkable chivalry and nobility, in parallel with unyielding nomadic morals. The people of East Jordan have the right to say that the land (was) our land, but since Prince Abdullah and the Emirate of Transjordan, many Syrians, Circassians and Palestinians came to the country, and recently, Iraqis as well. For this reason, the people of East Jordan feel even more threatened when Israel speaks of “the Alternative Homeland" [for the Palestinians]. Thus we find them insisting on ‘recovering' their country so that the State, including its institutions like the army and security services, remain in their hands. In truth, there is a strong movement representing this trend, and its ideas can be seen in the slogans being raised, and the big demands being made – rendering them difficult to be met. In this climate of transformed traditional roles, we find the people of East Jordan protesting while the Palestinians refrain from doing so. To be sure, the Palestinians have always felt marginalized and sometimes even as second-class citizens. While the Palestinians must be considerably concerned by the fact that some Palestinians had their citizenships revoked, they have ultimately reached the conclusion that their conditions in Jordan are better than anywhere else in the Arab world. For this reason, they may complain, but they are now equally keen on preserving the configuration of the regime as the people of East Jordan are. The protests, demonstrations and demands paint an inaccurate picture of the situation in Jordan, as Jordan is a staple country in its surrounding, and one that enjoys regional and international protection, and has a crucial role to play in the resolution of the Palestinian question, if there is any resolution (we recently read for example that the United States has helped Jordan boost its nuclear security by improving detection of radioactive materials at its borders). I had noticed some lack of manners in the positions voiced on King Abdullah Bin Al Hussein, with some considering him to be the problem. However, I consider him to be the solution, even if he has been unforthcoming in approving the necessary reforms that reduce his powers, but which are reforms that otherwise protect his power. For this reason, I can only attribute the slogans or letters that insult the King to a lack of manners. The National Dialogue Committee submitted near the end of last year a comprehensive paper containing recommendations that the King has yet to implement, recommendations that encompass general principles and guidelines for political reforms, with proposed basic constitutional amendments and an electoral law that enshrines proportional representation, in addition to a law on political parties - and so on and so forth. The Dialogue Committee comprised 50 members who represented all the segments of the people, with the exception of the Muslim Brotherhood who boycotted the dialogue and who are now exploiting the Palestinian cause, without this receiving any response from the Palestinians themselves. Perhaps it would be prudent for the King to hire a number of advisers, or a political kitchen that would bring together credible, honest and trustworthy figures to bridge the confidence gap between the government and the opposition. I suggest that this group's first task should be to fight corruption, both real and perceived corruption, and hold public trials for corrupt officials. This is while bearing in mind that Jordan's position in the Corruption Perceptions Index is good, ranking 56th out of 182 countries, i.e. in the top third of the list. This should be followed with a strategic plan to address the economic situation, and find a way to streamline the work of constitutional institutions, such as the government, the Royal Diwan and the security services, because it is no longer permissible for each party to be running its own separate agenda, as this was evident in the work of Awn al-Khasawneh's government. There is a rift in the relations between the people of the Two Banks of the Jordan, but they all support the existing regime, and none other. However, I can explain the tone of the opposition in East Jordan with the fact that nagging seems to be a second nature for the tribesmen. Yet they remain the mainstay of the country, and if I had any problem and a thousand friends to help me solve it, then I would choose to rely on these tribesmen because they are authentic and honorable people. [email protected]
