NYT-Bush and King of Jordan Ease Tensions Between Them

By STEVEN R. WEISMAN

Published: May 7, 2004



WASHINGTON, May 6 - President Bush, pressed by King Abdullah II of Jordan for reassurances on the boundaries and status of refugees in a future Palestinian state, promised Thursday to put his views in writing soon but stopped short of making the commitments sought by the king.

~snip~

Mr. Bush also sent a private letter to Abdullah after the meeting that was made public by Jordan. Reiterating Mr. Bush's earlier public comments, the letter promised that any settlement between Israel and the Palestinians would have to come through negotiation and that the United States would oppose "any developments in the region that might endanger your interests."

The letter left unclear what such developments might be, but officials said it referred not only to the Palestinian conflict but also to making sure that Iraq did not fall apart into Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish enclaves, which Iraq's neighbors fear could spread instability in the Middle East.

~snip~
It was also striking, diplomats said, that Mr. Bush promised to send the letter to Mr. Qurei, commonly know as Abu Ala, even though the administration has basically endorsed Israel's view that the Palestinian has no power and is being told what to do by Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader.

"If Abu Ala is powerless, why is the United States sending him a letter?" asked one diplomat close to the Middle East peace negotiations.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/07/politics/07prexy.html

Isn't he wanted in Jordan for multi-milliion dollar bank fraud?

the Hashemite dynasty who rule Jordan are, I expect Chalabi's 'wanted' status could be changed with a simple cash payment.

Touching article about Bush and Abdullah kissing and making up. Maybe they snorted coke together and counted their Haliburton shares. The Jordanian royals are as corrupt and hated as the Saudis. If Ariel Sharon has to kill something he could do worse than target them.

Of course he won't, because they do a better job of oppressing their people than he could.

And "Jordan's deep concern" over letter to Ariel Sharon my ass. Deep concern his people might realise they're being robbed and lied to. Abdullah 2 has been a CIA asset for decades. Palestinian refugees have outnumbered native Jordanians since '67 IIRC. Hamas ought to liberate Jordan. Be more constructive than attacking Israeli civvies. :puke:.

lays down to the US.