Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02AMMAN3916
2002-07-16 13:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDANIAN YOUTH UNCONVINCED ABOUT THE WAR ON

Tags:  PGOV PREL JO 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 003916 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN YOUTH UNCONVINCED ABOUT THE WAR ON
TERRORISM; FEARFUL THAT THEY COULD BE ITS NEXT TARGET

Ref: Amman 3330

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 003916

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN YOUTH UNCONVINCED ABOUT THE WAR ON
TERRORISM; FEARFUL THAT THEY COULD BE ITS NEXT TARGET

Ref: Amman 3330


1. The following cable is a report prepared by a foreign
service national and based on extensive contacts in the
student community.

--------------
Summary
--------------


2. Through the eyes of most Jordanian young adults,
America's war on terrorism is a war on Islam and the Arabs.
America's support for ISRAELi "oppression" of Palestinians -
which they see as getting worse, not better since September
11 -- is the main reason for this belief. A 20-year-old male
sums it up: "Palestinians have suffered brutal oppression
for the past 50 years under the ISRAELis. It is with
American support and with American weaponry that ISRAEL is
able to do so." There is little popular support for current
US foreign policy among Jordan's youth. This was evident
when students burned American flags alongside the ISRAELi
flag during the April demonstrations in a show of angry
protest at America's "biased war."

--------------
Silenced politicized majority
--------------


3. POLFSN spoke recently with several dozen Jordanian
students. Despite a broad sense of apathy and helplessness,
these young adults were highly opinionated and politicized.
Almost every youth interviewed talked about his/her
inability to do anything about the "situation". Beyond
calling for the destruction of ISRAEL, burning flags, and
boycotting American/ISRAELi goods, Jordanians feel powerless
in the face of a campaign of such magnitude (i.e. the war on
terrorism). "We are forbidden to talk politics, we are weak,
we can't allow political movements, demonstrations....". The
war on terrorism has highlighted their frustration with
their own government as demonstrations and public speeches
have been curtailed during moments of tension.


4. There is a widespread perception among young adults that
the Security Services are all too often willing to
circumscribe freedom of expression in their effort to ensure
stability. A Professor at the University of Jordan claims
that students are "forbidden to talk or discuss terrorism
because that would mean talking about Islamism and
fundamentalism. Public talks are forbidden to delve into
these themes - rather, they must speak in general, and not
mention names, organizations, or the USA." They talk in
symbols or in the privacy of their own homes, with people or

professors they trust. When the Professor asks his students
political questions in class, the answers are usually muted.
"There is heavy GID presence in the classrooms and so
students are afraid to voice their opinion, but they come to
me in private, and they grasp ideas and they are vocal about
their anger at American foreign policy."


5. One common denominator in the feelings of young adults in
Jordan is their opposition to America's war on terrorism.
"It's not a fair war, they (USG) are taking sides, they are
trying to be judges of the world, they give themselves the
right to decide who is a terrorist and who is not - and it's
not that simple", said one young adult. While many still do
not believe for certain that Bin Laden was responsible for
September 11, the majority is convinced of one thing:
America is biased and America doesn't like the Muslim Arab
world. This belief is entrenched, dangerously so, in the
minds of many. When asked about what message they would like
to send to the USG, the responses strike the same chord: "no
one likes terrorism, but think before you act against people
- and stop using September 11th in misguided ways." There is
a perception that anyone who has an Arab name, and has a
beard is automatically suspect.

--------------
Just how entrenched?
--------------


6. The following incident is worth mentioning as it sheds
light on Anti-American (foreign policy) sentiment in youth
circles. In mid-May, 5 professors were expelled from the
Shariaa (religious) school of the University of Jordan
(Reftel). Students with whom we spoke blame the USG for this
outcome. Their rational is this: All the professors were
graduates from Saudi Arabia, they were all appointed by the
Jordanian government, never talked badly about Jordan or the
King, and never received illegal foreign funding. "What
could be the reason behind their expulsion if it weren't for
America's campaign and crackdown on fundamentalism?" They
conclude that because the professors were Saudi graduates,
then the names of the professors must have come from America
to the Jordanian government, and that is the reason behind
their expulsion.


7. Following the expulsion of the Professors, the University
took harsh disciplinary action against three students - all
from the Islamic movement in the University. Many students
are fearful that the University may impose additional
measures; student sources say that there possibly are twenty
facing similar disciplinary action. Two strikes were held
in mid June, prompting the head of the Islamic Action Front
to send a letter to the Prime Minster with regard to the
perceived crackdown on students with an Islamic background.


--------------
Education not Punishment
--------------


8. A University of Jordan Professor of Sociology offered the
following analysis and advice on how best to address the
psycho-sociological reality of Jordan's youth: "Terrorism
and violence are rooted in people's lives, understandings,
and desperation. The war on terrorism should be geared to
education. It is important to uproot the causes of violence,
but if you want to fight the fighter, you will generate more
strife." He advocated a more tolerant view to "dry the
sources of discrimination and instead create more dialogue".
Although the Professor did not see this as a war on Islam
and the Arabs, he believes that many students view it as
such because it is Arab Muslim countries that the US appears
to be targeting.


9. Comment: The main concern among many young Jordanians is
that the tactics America is employing in its war on
terrorism will, in the long run, only serve to intensify
Arab feelings of being identified as the enemy - and that
this is already having repercussions in the Middle East.
Such a dynamic - many educated Jordanians note ironically -
will only act to undermine support for the U.S. in Arab and
Muslim countries -- support that is necessary for the US's
war on terrorism to succeed.
Gnehm