Is Jordan Next?

28 of the Eleventh Month 5771

Before reading this post, you may want to go back and read the predictions I made in two recent posts, I'm Shocked That Hizbullah Is Taking Over Lebanon! and More Islamist Takeovers: I Told You So!

My comments here are in blue italics.

YNET: Jordan's King Sacks Government

After weeks of opposition protests inspired by regime ouster in Tunisia and turmoil in Egypt, Abdullah names his former ex-military adviser Marouf Bakhit as new prime minister with orders to carry out 'true political reforms'

News Agencies, February 1, 2011

After weeks of opposition protests demanding change, Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday sacked his government and asked his former ex-military advisor Marouf Bakhit to form a new cabinet, an official said.

According to the palace, the king named Bakhit as prime minister with orders to carry out "true political reforms".

Translation of "true political reforms:" Make speeches in Parliament, pass innocuous bills, set up photo opps for the King and new PM, so that the people think we are doing something, but don't do anything which would really diminish the king's power.

Bakhit's mission is to take practical, quick and tangible steps to launch true political reforms, enhance Jordan's democratic drive and ensure safe and decent living for all Jordanians."

...without giving away any true power, currently held by the king and the wealthy.

King Abdullah's move came after thousands of Jordanians took to the streets –inspired by the regime ouster in Tunisia and the turmoil in Egypt – and called for the resignation of Prime Minister Samir Rifai who is blamed for a rise in fuel and food prices and slowed political reforms.

The king had to blame someone, right? Who better than prime minister?

The king also stressed that economic reform was a "necessity to provide a better life for our people, but we won't be able to attain that without real political reforms, which must increase popular participation in the decision-making."

...make that the appearance of popular participation in the decision-making.

He asked al-Bakhit for a "comprehensive assessment ... to correct the mistakes of the past."

He did not elaborate. The statement said Abdullah also demanded an "immediate revision" of laws governing politics and public freedoms. Jordan's powerful Islamist opposition said on Monday that it had started a dialogue with the state, saying that unlike the situation in Egypt, it did not seek regime change.

Notice how it made a point of differentiating itself from Egypt? Anyway, why bother to change it,...now? Just become a part of the regime, and change it gradually from within.

Opposition demands included "the resignation of the government, the amendment of the electoral law and the formation of a national salvation government headed by an elected prime minister," a member of the Islamic Action Front's executive council, Zaki Bani Rsheid, told AFP.

Elected prime minister? Yeah, right! Making sure that a new prime minister acceptable to the Islamist opposition will be one of the necessary compromises the king will have to make to preserve peace in the streets.

Rifai formed a first government in December 2009, and reshuffled it in November 2010.

...which apparently wasn't good enough.

Bakhit, who was born in 1947, served as prime minister from 2005 to 2007.

Well, here I am in Israel, watching the turmoil all around me, and I still have no clue as to which country will be the next to become an Islamic state. Only time will tell.

Any bets?