An interesting study on Jordan, by the Brookings Institute:

(February 2014)

Click to access arab%20econpaper4comolet%20v2.pdf

Editor’s note:

What the researchers did not realize:

Why is Jordan ‘a island of peace’ among ‘troubled nations’?

The main reason, as understood ‘in the streets of Amman’, is the fact that the neighbours (Israel) and ‘friends’ close and far (Saudi Arabia, USA, UK) thought it was better not to stir up trouble and aim for destabilization. (The country is too small for ‘fragmentation’, which is aimed for in other Arab states such as Syria and Iraq).

A stable Jordan acts as a buffer zone to Israel. The Jordan army protects Israel from outside aggression.

Indirectly the above ‘thoughts from the Amman streets’ prove that much of the destabilization of other Arab states comes from outside. It is rather obvious in Syria, slightly less obvious but still equally valid for Iraq.

Demonstrations against the Government in Homs, Syria, were in the beginning peaceful, until outside agitators agitated for armed rebellion and brought in foreign arms and foreign fighters. (See relevant articles by Dr. Juergen Todenhoefer and others).

The ‘new Middle East map’ does not originate from within the Middle East (except for the Middle Eastern enclave of Israel).

Just some thoughts …. to ponder over.