From the Jordanian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Roba Al Assi

Jordan: Exempting US citizens from extradition and trial
One of the issues in the Jordanian blogosphere is the Jordanian parliament's decision to ratify a bilateral agreement between Jordan and the US which exempts US citizens from extradition and trial under the auspices of the International Criminal Court. Khalaf of “What's Up in Jordan?” is feeling ambivalent, “I certainly agree that US attempts to exempt itself from international law are hypocritical and unfair. On the other hand, fairness has little to with anything…. Thus, to me the issue boils down to pros and cons. On the pro's side, we are no longer threatened with the cut of US aid. Personally, I don't think that this is a credible threat, since they are already getting their money's worth as it is now… On the con's side, we made Amnesty International unhappy…. Bigger on con's side, we missed a chance to put our finger in Bush's eye.” Natasha Tynes of Mental Mayhem agrees on the ambivalency, “Which is more important in this case? US aid or respecting international agreements? Is safeguarding our economy more important than satisfying human rights organizations? Frankly, I'm glad I was not in a position where I had to make this decision, as the simple reality is: Doomed if you do. Doomed if you don't!” Ameen Malhas of Banzeen adds, “Anyhow, lest we forget, Jordan’s economy would go to the toilet if we didn’t ratify, as most sources indicate that the US is threatening to cancel its potential aid in the face of countries who hesitate to take this step.”
In regards to other thoughts, Amjad has some thoughts on democracy, “Democracy is a failure (I think) because it has to be controlled by guidelines, and because the guidelines are different from one religion, tradition, or race to another.” Haitham Sabbah is appalled by “injustice toward females in the name of Islam” saying, “Some cases are individuals, other is driven by state system and the rest are terrorists in the name of Islam! Are we living in 2006 or 1006?” Naseem Tarawneh of The Black Iris poses questions about banned Islamic party “Hizb Il Tahrir” and he also expresses his disappointment with the recent embassy closures in the Jordanian capital Amman.
Ahmad Humeid reflects while in Dubai, “Is shopping the new religion?”  Wael Attili takes us on a picturesque trip to Madaba, “The stones of Madaba are telling you much older memories, an ancient history and a religious dialogue between civilizations.”
A group of Jordanian bloggers have also taken the initiative to launch toot- “A new medium in which intelligent voices from and for Arabia are brought together and presented to a wider community; where passionate readers and writers can share and communicate without filtering.”