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Jordan’s balancing act on Syria

Jordan-Syria ties remain on edge as Geneva II talks continue.
Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh (C) welcomes U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry upon his arrival at the Royal Palace in Amman, to meet with Jordan's King Abdullah, November 7, 2013. At right is U.S. Ambassador to Jordan Stuart Jones. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX153OT

For Jordan, one thing is definite about the peace conference on Syria which opened in the Swiss resort of Montreux last week: It proved that relations with the Damascus government have reached an historic low! Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem dedicated most of his long-winded speech to attacking Syria’s neighbors for aiding terrorists and smuggling weapons. While he did not name Jordan specifically, he referred to it as “the weak southern neighbor” that is “ordered around.” He saved his most vitriolic attacks for the United States, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Reaction in Amman was acerbic. A number of columnists waged an unprecedented attack against Moallem and the regime he represents. Muhannad Mubeideen, a popular talk show host, retorted in Addustour daily by saying, “This weak southern neighbor refused an order to join [a US-led international coalition] in Hafr Al Baten [in Saudi Arabia] to wage war on Iraq [in 1990] while Syria obeyed such an order.” He reminded Moallem of Syria’s sinister role in Lebanon and of the regime’s daily crimes against its own people.

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