Jordanians Mourn; King & Queen visit hospitals; King talks about al-Qaeda

[Hamza123]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/11/12/jordan.blasts/index.html

 

AMMAN, Jordan (CNN) -- Jordan's King Abdullah II on Saturday vowed to back a crackdown on al Qaeda after confirming that four people from the terror group carried out the Amman hotel attacks -- three suicide bombers and the wife of one of the attackers.

 

But in an interview with CNN, the monarch stopped short of pledging unilateral action against the terror group al Qaeda in Iraq, which is led by Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

 

"Obviously we are going to crack down and take the fight to Zarqawi, but this is part of our coalition ... against this ... threat," he said. (Watch exclusive CNN interview with the king -- 10:24)

 

Al Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility for Wednesday's attack, which killed 57 people, plus the three bombers.

 

'These people are insane'

In an Internet statement, the terrorist group said three suicide bombers and the wife of one of the attackers were involved in the bombings.

 

While the statement cannot be independently confirmed, King Abdullah said "initial findings" indicate that they were all Iraqis.

 

The king expressed particular scorn for the husband and wife team.

 

"To see a wedding procession and to take your wife or your spouse with you into that wedding and blow yourself up -- these people are insane," he said.

 

The attack on the wedding party at the Radisson Hotel resulted in the heaviest loss of life, including 38 friends and family of the bride and groom.

 

The Web site posting from al Qaeda in Iraq said the husband and wife were responsible for the Days Inn blast.

 

New strategy

King Abdullah said that while Zarqawi "has been targeting Jordan for quite awhile," Wednesday's attack -- the deadliest in Jordan's history -- showed a new strategy for the Jordanian-born terror leader.

 

"We have been very successful on a regular basis in being able to take his groups across because he has used Jordanians," the king said. "Now he has changed tactics.

 

"He is using foreigners. That means that our security forces have to change tactics, also."

 

He said it was possible the attackers slipped into Jordan from Iraq or Syria, accused by the United States of allowing terrorists to cross into Iraq. Security officials later said they believed the attackers crossed the Iraqi border.

 

King Abdullah said he has spoken to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad about securing the border to prevent terrorists "that have been creating instability here."

 

"He has assured me on many occasions that he will take this up and give it his utmost attention, and I hope that he will continue to do that," the king said.

 

When asked if Assad had followed up his words with actions, the monarch said, "Well, we still have had problems across our borders."

 

Investigation continues

Jordanian authorities offered some insight Saturday into the ongoing investigation of Wednesday's bombings.

 

The bombers came across the Iraqi border three days before the Wednesday attacks and rented a house. A forensic examination of the house is under way to determine if it is commonly used a safe house for bombers, authorities said.

 

Authorities retrieved nothing useful from the security cameras in the hotels or from the wedding photographer at the Radisson.

 

As for the suicide belts, they were made outside of Jordan. But the detonators were connected to the belts shortly before the bombings, presumably in Jordan. The belts contained a "rapid detonation explosive," security officials said, and the detonators were fashioned from hand grenade detonators.

 

The explosives and detonators were of Yugoslavian origin, authorities said, and are readily available in Iraq.

 

The investigation suggests that al-Zarqawi was frustrated that Jordan had been able to thwart 15 plots since April 2004, so al Qaeda's Iraq leader shifted his focus to soft targets to demonstrate he was "still alive and kicking" in his native Jordan, officials said.

 

This same rationale prompted al-Zarqawi to recruit non-Jordanians in an effort to prevent Jordan's intelligence officials from uncovering plots against soft targets. Fourteen people have been arrested in connection with the bombings, all of them non-Jordanians.

 

Jordan police have yet to make the bombers' identities public, but may do so Sunday.

 

[Kryptonite Man]

The Jordanian people have finally seen al-Zakawi or whatever his name is for what he and al-Quaida truly are... EVIL!!!! There is a backlash against th al-Quaida leader in Iraq and a LOT of Jordanians are REALLY pissed off at those assholes and are demanding their heads on silver platters, and I for one don't blame them.

[RoyalOrleans]

Hamsalad,

 

You just need to come to the realization that your faith is full of schoolyard bullies with penis envy. Why do you think Hitler wanted to eliminate the Jews? Why do you think the hollowed Quran calls for the destruction of Israel?

 

Penis envy. Couldn't possibly be any other reason.

[Hamza123]

The Jordanian people have finally seen al-Zakawi or whatever his name is for what he and al-Quaida truly are... EVIL!!!! There is a backlash against th al-Quaida leader in Iraq and a LOT of Jordanians are REALLY pissed off at those assholes and are demanding their heads on silver platters, and I for one don't blame them.

 

True! And the anti-terror protests continue!

 

.

[Lethalfind]

When Jordan is involved in things like this I always wonder about Queen Noir, she was the late Kings wife. She was an American prior to marrying him.

[Hamza123]

Yeah, she is a very gentil and nice person. I have heard she's quite humble too.

[Kryptonite Man]

Yeah, she is a very gentle and nice person. I have heard she's quite humble too.

 

I couldn't agree more. If I were a Jordanian, I'd fall in love with her. (OK, I'm a normal red-blooded male. Is that a problem?):o