You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Iraq-Jordan
Hamzah will continue to serve Jordan: Noor
2004-12-05
AMMAN — Jordan's Queen Noor said yesterday her son will continue to serve Jordan, despite King Abdullah's decision to strip him of the crown as heir to the Hashemite throne.
Til he's found floating face down in the Jordan River.
Noor neither referred to Abdullah nor his decision — an unusual move in Jordan, where the absolute monarch is venerated by his family and subjects alike. The absence of any mention of Abdullah in Noor's written statement underlined her disappointment in the ouster of her son that she had hoped would rule Jordan.

Abdullah had chosen Prince Hamzah, now a 24-year-old American college student, as his heir hours after their father — King Hussein — died of cancer in February 1999. The designation was widely seen out of respect for Hussein, who is known to have favoured Hamzah among his 11 children from four marriages. The late king often described Hamzah publicly as the "delight of my eye."

In a written statement to The Associated Press, Noor said Hamzah "has always been a source of pride and joy for me, his family and his father King Hussein whose indomitable faith lives on in him."

"God willing, he will continue to fulfill King Hussein's wishes for him to serve Jordan," added Noor, who is touring the US.

"My faith in him and in our beloved Jordan is constant and undiminished."

On Sunday, Abdullah — who enjoys absolute powers which include dissolving parliament and ruling by decree — stripped his half brother and heir of his title as crown prince in an abrupt shake-up aimed at redeeming the full power the king inherited from Hussein. The king said he wanted to remove the threat this Nancy-boy posed relieve Hamzah of his duty and give him space to undertake more responsibilities in state affairs. 
Posted by:Steve White

#4  
#1,#2
Specificly, the looser in Ottoman politics would "be sent a (the) bowstring". And it just wasn't for family, either-- I know of at least 2 Visiers that got "strung along" after falling from grace. No speakers circuit for you!

It is a good question why Hamzah hasn't died, been arrested, or taken an extended vacation in Europe yet. Awaiting developments...
Posted by: N Guard   2004-12-05 5:16:56 PM  

#3  Hamza was a backup in case Abdullah got himself croaked. Now that Abdullah has his own son & heir, he's cut Hamza out of the line of succession. Perfectly understandable. Nothing to see here.
Posted by: mojo   2004-12-05 2:28:52 PM  

#2  Desert Blondie: It's not like Abdullah has slit his throat (yet......isn't that what the Ottomans used to do? I know they killed their rivals, I just forget how.)

Strangulation was how the Ottomans used to do it.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2004-12-05 12:15:31 PM  

#1  Well, if that's the case, why didn't the old man publicly declare him his heir before he kicked the bucket? Did Hussein himself ascend to the throne when he was a kid? It's not like Abdullah has slit his throat (yet......isn't that what the Ottomans used to do? I know they killed their rivals, I just forget how.)
If this isn't an advertisement for writing out a damn will, I don't know what is.
Posted by: Desert Blondie   2004-12-05 9:40:20 AM  

00:00