Jordan Attacks Claimed by Al Qaeda Group

Washington Post staff writer Jonathan Finer ,was online Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. ET from Jordan to discuss the latest on the hotel bombings in Amman. An al Qaeda group has claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks, which have killed at least 50 people.

Read more: 'The Best Day Became the Worst' , ( Washington Post, Nov. 11, 2005 )

The transcript follows.

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washingtonpost.com: This chat has been delayed. Thank you for your patience.

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Jonathan Finer: Hello from Amman. Very sorry I am late. Was out reporting a story for tomorrow. Will get quickly to the questions...

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Chicago, Ill.: Jonathan,

What do you think the odds are that at least one of these bombings in Amman involved an element of personal vengeance, such as a grudge against a family at the wedding or the against family group at Day's Inn restaurant? Not that Al Qaeda wasn't involved, but that they may have been trying to do double duty with a terrorist strike that also settled a personal score?

Jonathan Finer: I have no way of knowing the answer to this yet, but I would be surprised. There are rarely indications in attacks like these that anything personal is involved. More often groups or locations, or countries as a whole, are the intended targets, as appears to be the case here.

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Parkville, Md.: I'm reading reports that several of the suicide bombers were Iraqi citizens. That's a pretty new development for the region isn't it? And if so, this fact would tend to speak ill of the outcome of the U.S. invasion wouldn't it?

Jonathan Finer: These are just preliminary indications based on Internet postings and some unnamed sources, but if true, it would seem to suggest the possibility that the insurgency could spread beyond Iraq's borders to neighboring countries. This is something the Iraqi government has long warned people about, in trying to get these countries to help it crack down on border infiltrations.

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Washington, D.C.: Obviously al-Zarqawi has been dedicated to the overthrow of the Jordanian monarchy for some time now. But with the establishment of al Qaeda in Iraq and its visible role in the insurgency, why would he strike at Jordan now?

Jonathan Finer: Lately Zarqawi and associates have made statements suggesting Jordan could soon be targeted in part because of its tight relations with the U.S. and, compared to other Arab countries, with Israel. Getting inside the psychology of why these groups do what they do when they do it is more than I am capable of.

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Washington, D.C.: One question and one comment. First, is there anything specific that the families of the wedding party and/or other victims might need right now? Is there anything people here can do for them, or for their families in Northern Virginia? Second, for anyone who might be interested, a candlelight vigil is being held this afternoon from 4-6pm in front of the Jordanian Embassy in DC; it is sponsored by a number of Arab, Muslim and American organizations.

Jonathan Finer: Thanks for the information. as for what the wedding families might need, I don't know, but I would imagine its something only time will provide.

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Frederick, Md.: Thank you taking our questions, Mr. Finer. Do you see this event as a major turning point (one way or the other) as far as the region's fight against the terrorists? Will these bombings likely further divide the people of the surrounding regions, and, if so, at this point, which side has stronger fighting power?

Jonathan Finer: The Iraqi government and the U.S. military in Baghdad has signaled they believe this to be something of a turning point--suggesting that it shows al Qaeda in Iraq's intention of spreading the insurgency to neighboring countries. the question about whether it will produce division in neighboring countries, or solidarity and resolve, is an important one. in Jordan so far there are indications of both: much evidence of patriotism and flag-waving, but also concern, particularly on the part of Iraqis in Jordan, of a potential backlash against them.

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Oslo, Norway: I've seen reports that a large number of high-ranking Palestinian terrorists were victims of these attacks in Amman. How is the public in Jordan reacting to this?

Jonathan Finer: We discussed who these officials were in today's story. At least one was described by the Palestinian embassy as high-ranking. The status of particular people who were killed or wounded seems to be a secondary issue to most Jordanians, who appear focused on the families of all the victims and how this will change citizens' lives going forward.

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Wheaton, Md.: Do you think this attack will change Jordanian sympathy for Hamas, PLO and other terrorist groups?

Jonathan Finer: Not sure I can even guess at this one. Sorry. It has however seemed to change the view in Jordan of the Al Qaeda organization. I heard today that a poll taken a year ago showed almost 70 percent of Jordanian adults believed Al Qaeda to be a legitimate resistance group. I bet, based on many conversations and observations here this week, that number would be lower now.

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Alexandria, Va.: A listener on the BBC commented that the attacks in Jordan show the necessity of solving the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

Is there a connection between these attacks and the Israeli-Palestinian dispute?

Jonathan Finer: No obvious one, as far as I can tell.

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Baltimore, Md.: The bombings in Jordan took place on Nov. 9, which we would write as 11/9 but the Europeans (and Middle Eastern countries?) write as 9/11. I haven't seen this mentioned in any news reports.

Jonathan Finer: This has been mentioned a lot over here. Not sure if it is significant or not, but Jordanians have noticed.

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Evanston, Ill.: This story really hit home for me. I am a retired foreign service officer who, towards the very end of my career with USAID, was in the Colombo Hilton in Sri Lanka at the exact moment that a truck bomb went off, blowing me across the room, and partially destroying the hotel as well as the World Trade Center of Colombo which was next door. What followed was one of the most intense street fighting on the streets of Colombo during their endless civil conflict. It occurred to me that this is an excellent target for terrorists since they (a) reduce foreign exchange earnings by cutting off tourism, (b) cause the government to rethink who their allies are and whether their support of (usually U.S.) policy is worth the trouble, and (c) bring global media coverage to their cause. Do you recall the Sri Lanka bombing of the Hilton in October 1997, and do you think hotels will become a prime target around the world?

Jonathan Finer: Thanks for your story. I remember reading about the bombing but did not remember the details. Hotels seem to make appealing targets because they are often poorly protected, crowded and full of foreigners (if that is who the attackers are aiming at).

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Bratislava, Slovakia: How will King Abdullah react on these attacks? Will there be a big coalition in the Middle East against terrorists consisting of Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia?

Jonathan Finer: The king has strongly condemned the attacks and called for unity in the country. as for whether the coalition you describe will come about, let's wait and see.

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Chicago, Ill.: What is the sentiment like among Jordanians? I saw protests on television against Zarqawi. Is there a sense of blame over the connection with Iraq, or do they view this separately?

Jonathan Finer: Most Jordanians I talked to have condemned the attacks and Zarqawi, who many of you probably know is from Jordan. The protests were powerful, but not all that large (only a few hundred people). I think many Jordanians view the attacks as linked to the continuing conflict in Iraq, especially if reports today that the bombers were Iraqi prove true. so far those reports are unconfirmed.

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Alexandria, Va.: How has the Syrian government reacted?

Jonathan Finer: The Syrian government has been fairly quiet on this issue. I think they have enough to worry about.

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Caracas, Venezuela: For decades, Jordan and most other Arab states have been very supportive of these types of attacks. Why so much surprise when it happens within their own borders?

Jonathan Finer: I think the official position of the Jordanian government has long been to condemn attacks against civilians in other countries. That may not be the case with all Jordanians.

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Washington, D.C.: Has there been any indication from al Qaeda in Iraq of further attacks? Are they warning of violence in other Middle Eastern countries?

Jonathan Finer: They have made general references to attacks in other countries previously, but I have not seen any new statements since the Amman bombings.

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Jonathan Finer: Don't see any more questions, so I'll get back to work. Thanks for participating.

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