Two days ago, Jordanian television broadcast extensive confessions obtained from six Jordanians, one of whom is a leading Al-Qaeda terrorist, and two Syrians, in which they admitted to planning a chemical attack against targets in Jordan, including Jordanian intelligence headquarters and the US Embassy.
According to Jordanian officials, the multiple attacks would have claimed 80,000 lives had they been carried out. In addition to the six terrorists displayed on Jordanian television, officials said that another four were killed in a series of raids, the last of which was on April 20.
In their broadcast confessions, the terrorists stated that Al-Qaeda operatives variously contacted them and trained them in Afghanistan and Iraq.
On April 27, the following day, the Jordan Times newspaper editorialized, "The threats are real. The threats could be as close as the hospitals, schools, universities, bus stations, movie theatres, and malls we frequent."
The editor's warning that the threats are real came "to put to rest 'man on the street' suspicions that the case of an alleged plot to stage chemical and poison gas attacks against state and diplomatic targets in the Kingdom was fabricated to detract attention from price and tax hikes." In short, the newspaper implored, "[I]t's time some of us mature." The Jordan Times editorial went on to say, "The chilling programme aired on JRTV last night was no scam. Over the past decade, Jordan's efforts to maintain security in the country have resulted in the foiling of hundreds of terrorist plots."
While claiming, "In the international community of countries working to counter terrorism, Jordan is counted as a team player," the editorial noted, "But Jordan is a country in a region fraught with conflicts that remain unresolved, where decades of frustration fester, and where acts of violence are too often the result. Jordan was one of the earliest victims of these frustrations."
Referring to statements made by Jordan's King Abdullah II following the revelation of the foiled plot, the Jordan Times commented, "The terrorists apprehended today will continue to be replaced by others tomorrow if the political solutions to these problems are not found and acted on."
According to Jordanian officials, the multiple attacks would have claimed 80,000 lives had they been carried out. In addition to the six terrorists displayed on Jordanian television, officials said that another four were killed in a series of raids, the last of which was on April 20.
In their broadcast confessions, the terrorists stated that Al-Qaeda operatives variously contacted them and trained them in Afghanistan and Iraq.
On April 27, the following day, the Jordan Times newspaper editorialized, "The threats are real. The threats could be as close as the hospitals, schools, universities, bus stations, movie theatres, and malls we frequent."
The editor's warning that the threats are real came "to put to rest 'man on the street' suspicions that the case of an alleged plot to stage chemical and poison gas attacks against state and diplomatic targets in the Kingdom was fabricated to detract attention from price and tax hikes." In short, the newspaper implored, "[I]t's time some of us mature." The Jordan Times editorial went on to say, "The chilling programme aired on JRTV last night was no scam. Over the past decade, Jordan's efforts to maintain security in the country have resulted in the foiling of hundreds of terrorist plots."
While claiming, "In the international community of countries working to counter terrorism, Jordan is counted as a team player," the editorial noted, "But Jordan is a country in a region fraught with conflicts that remain unresolved, where decades of frustration fester, and where acts of violence are too often the result. Jordan was one of the earliest victims of these frustrations."
Referring to statements made by Jordan's King Abdullah II following the revelation of the foiled plot, the Jordan Times commented, "The terrorists apprehended today will continue to be replaced by others tomorrow if the political solutions to these problems are not found and acted on."