Jordan’s $2.5b Security Lifeline to the Future

While the media is dominated by events in North Korea, it would be wise to devote some space to the decision this week by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait to provide Jordan with more than 2 billion dollars in aid over five years to sustain Amman during a time of unprecedented economic pressure.

With an estimated 200,000 Jordanian protestors on the streets venting anger over falling living standards, Jordan is the third Middle East country to endure widespread unrest this year.  Dissatisfaction has been rising for months, and protests have echoed the unrest that shook Tunisia and Iran earlier this year.  In all three countries, protestors represented a spectrum of lower and middle class groups in demonstrations larger than anything seen in the early days of the Arab Spring.   Likewise, protests were essentially leaderless, rudderless, and fueled by social media.  The leaders of the affected countries responded by backing away from necessary reforms to restore order.