Jordanian army is indeed an Arab army

In his Speech from the Throne, which inaugurates Parliament’s work every year, His Majesty King Abdullah addressed more than one essential issue pertaining to the particularly critical situation in our region.

At some point, the Monarch affirmed that the “advanced level of liberties and progressive environment of political and social participation, which Jordan uniquely enjoys amidst a tumultuous region, is the result of security and stability gains, for which our comrades in the armed forces and security agencies have made many sacrifices to preserve”.

After saluting the security forces with “pride and appreciation”, the King looked directly at the gallery where the military commanders were seated and said: “I tell you brave soldiers, the motto that you wear on your uniforms, ‘The Arab Army’, is not just a slogan, nor came by coincidence; it is a statement of this army’s commitment to defend the causes of the Arab nation, its soil and security against all threats.”

“Jordan’s security,” the King continued, “is part and parcel of the security of brethren Arab countries.”

Of particular significance, really, was the King’s verdict: “Arab security is indivisible.”

Such a powerful statement at a very critical moment, when much talk is circulating, often questioning the wisdom of Jordan’s participation in a worldwide mobilised effort to counter the current lethal and most threatening wave of terrorist advance ever anticipated, answers countless questions.

Some, however, remained in doubt.

“What did the King’s words addressed to the armed forces during his speech mean?” one senior European diplomat asked as we accidentally came across each other the next day from the National Assembly’s session.

When I replied that the King meant exactly what he said, he rushed to sarcastically ask: “So do we expect to see Jordanian soldiers fighting in Libya soon?”

This unfortunately is how some foreign observers interpret, in fact misinterpret, Jordanian moves.

Despite indicative signals from every possible direction, they continue to fail to grasp the seriousness of the security situation in the region, as well as the urgent need for counteraction. 

It is true that Jordan is out of the sphere of the impending terrorist threat now, but vigilance requires pre-emptive action to keep Jordan securely in its safe place.

After consolidating its presence in Syria, Daesh moved into Iraq and in record time its forces managed to consolidate their strength there too.

It has been five months since Daesh fighters occupied major cities in Iraq and are still securely there. They are still fighting, they are still capturing huge amounts of weapons, heavy weapons too, and they are holding well despite the intensive allied pounding of their positions in both Syria and Iraq. 

It would have been foolish to wait until they appear at our immediate borders before we woke up to the invading danger.

Irrespective of some local doubt, Jordan was right to participate in the first aerial strike against the Daesh concentrations in Syria.  That was a clear signal of political and military strength on the part of the political leadership and the defence forces in the country to all those who questioned our resolve in taking an immediate military action to defend the land and the people of Jordan.

This country has always been at the forefront in the war on terrorism.

 We paid heavily for our responsible and principled positions over the years, but that never weakened our commitment.

Only days ago we remembered the nine-year-old terrorist attacks on three Amman hotels where scores of innocent people, some happily celebrating wedding parties, lost their lives in the brutal criminal carnage.

But it is a well-known reality that the Jordanian army is an Arab army.

It was established right from the very beginning as an Arab army, and during the last five decades, this same army proudly embarked on rescue missions in many Arab countries when military help was needed, I explained to the European diplomat.

I also reminded him that according to the terms of the 1950 Treaty of Joint Defence and Economic Cooperation of the League of the Arab States, each Arab state commits to the principle that the security of one is the concern of all and therefore all pledge to collective response when the security of other states is threatened.

This principle has long been ignored by most Arab states, which often engaged in wars against each other, but Jordan remains loyal to this particular commitment, within reason of course.

The war Jordan is currently engaged in has both a regional and a national dimension.

Wars these days are globalised too. When danger strikes next door, it is better to confront it where it originates than wait until it reaches one’s yard. This is precisely what Jordan is doing, and doing it right.

This is not a war of choice. Armies are built for a reason and should promptly act when the right reason is there, no matter where that takes them.