I am also stunned! I am not really surprised given the times that there would be a coup attempt in Jordan, but I would not have expected it to involve the King's own brothers! Prince Talal is somewhat more understandable, if still despicable.

I wonder if the princes were afraid that the King was planning a proactive move against them a la the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, but that is pure speculation on my part.

The fact that there are still literal palace coups being attempted really throws into relief the fact that even "western" seeming executive monarchies like Jordan (and formerly Iran) are not European- or Japanese-style constitutional monarchies no matter how appealing their royal families seem.

--Previous Message--
: --Previous Message--
: Many will recall an interview a few years
: ago where the King made some comments about
: not trusting some of his brothers but it was
: later denied. At the time the assumption was
: it was directed at the sons of Queen Noor,
: especially Hamzah but they do not appear to
: be involved here.
:
: I don't recall such an interview but what a
: truly stunning and alarming development!
: What on Earth was going on here? Jordan was
: supposed to be one of the most stable and
: orderly of the Middle Eastern nations and
: the Hashemites a close-knit and mutually
: loyal family!!
:
: What was the intent and purpose of such a
: coup? To replace King Abdullah with one of
: his brothers? For what possible reason and
: what was the role of Saudi Arabia, a
: supposed ally, in all this?
:
: I wonder if we will ever get the full truth
: behind what has been going on here? I'm
: finding it so hard to believe!
:
:
: