Editorial: Crime of Hate
The attack on three hotels in Amman, which left 57 dead and nearly 100 injured, is being seen by many throughout the world as principally an attack on the West. After all, the three are part of Western hotel chains, are used by Western tourists and businessmen, as well as officials and contractors involved in Iraq. It is easy, then, to conclude that this was an anti-Western strike. Indeed, that is precisely what Al-Qaeda in Iraq, which has claimed responsibility, wants people to believe. On its website, it specifically said that the Radisson, Hyatt and Days Inn hotels were targeted because they were favorites with American, Israeli and other Western intelligence.

No one should be deceived by this…

This is the Arab News editorial commenting on the terrorist attacks in Amman. It states clearly that these attacks, though they may be portrayed as having been aimed at “the West,” hit Arabs. And Arabs and Muslims were the targets. This attack was motivated,

above all [by] hate of Arabs and Muslims who do not conform to Al-Qaeda’s warped vision of Islam…

Jordan’s King Abdallah has vowed to pursue those behind the blasts. He can rely on Saudi Arabia providing him whatever help his country needs. This is our war too, just as it is Egypt’s war, Iraq’s war, the world’s war. We are all potential targets for Al-Qaeda. That is the lesson that the Amman bombings again reinforces.

One More Night of Terror, an Arab News story by Molouk Ba Isa, a Saudi woman of American birth, who had been staying at the Hyatt Hotel until just before the bombs went off, also makes interesting reading.

Asharq Alawsat is reporting 120 arrested in Jordan bombings dragnet, say officials