In Need of ‘Wins on The Ground’

Inside Jordan, things are difficult now due to the price of food and other commodities.
I think it is [the same] all over the world. We will have a major problem with rising prices, food concerns for the next couple of years. Oil prices have just been such a shock. Summer has been easier, but when you get to the winter, the issue of heating is going to be a major problem. We are pursuing alternative forms of energy. We're looking at nuclear energy.

I saw your statement to Haaretz saying "Everybody's going for nuclear programs" in the Middle East.
I had said that before in the United States, [but] when I said it to Haaretz, it was breaking news—"Jordan is going nuclear!"

Reportedly, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are building nuclear reactors.
They don't have the [energy] crunch that we do, so for us the pace will be much quicker. We'll probably be the first in our part of the world to actually go through the private sector to get nuclear energy.

I remember a couple of years ago you warned against the danger posed by Iran to moderate Arab regimes. Aren't Iran and Syria the big winners today in this region?
If we look at what happened in Lebanon two months ago [when Hizbullah routed government forces in street fighting to win major political concessions], I think the perception here is that that round was won by Iran and her proxies. We just have to be careful as to what happens on round two. Again, this is why I am so concerned about the peace process.

Why didn't anyone help the government of Lebanon? The United States and France worked so closely on Lebanon.
I'm just as shocked and surprised as you. The sad part is we have to be very careful. The lack of a peace process affects America's credibility in this part of the world. If we don't really show some wins on the ground, American influence and prestige will be dramatically diminished.

It's hard to see how you do move forward with Hamas firing rockets at Israel every day.
What I said in the U.S. last time I was there is [that] Hamas always comes up as an issue. But we are only looking at half the equation. Everyone is quick to talk about how to isolate Hamas, but there is not enough discussion as to how to support Fatah. How do we strengthen the other side?

Are you willing to live with a nuclear Iran?
I think that you need to engage with the Iranians. A military strike in Iran today will only elicit a reaction from Iran and Iranian proxies, and I don't think that we can live with any more conflicts in this part of the world.

© 2008