by Kumar Malhotra

In the crisis that followed Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Jordan steadfastly refused to join the coalition of forces ranged against Baghdad - much to the annoyance of the West and the oil-rich Gulf states.

Today, Jordan's position on Iraq is considerably more complex.

Popular feeling remains steadfastly pro-Iraqi, even though President Saddam Hussein does not elicit the same degree of admiration as he did during the Gulf war.

But King Hussein, who has worked hard to repair relations with the West and the Gulf states since the invasion of Kuwait and has made peace with Israel, is now much cooler towards Baghdad than his people.

In 1995, he took in two of President Saddam Hussein's sons-in-law, who had fled Baghdad in fear of their lives.

He openly criticised the Iraqi ruler for the lack of democracy and respect for human rights in his country.

But there are limits to Jordan's tilt away from Iraq.

King Hussein remains sensitive to pro-Iraqi feeling on the streets.

And Jordan gets nearly all of its oil from Iraq under a special barter arrangement - just one part of a long-standing economic relationship between the two countries which many Jordanians are reluctant to sacrifice.

While the King may sympathise with US and British frustration with Iraq, he is not likely to endorse their belief in a military solution.
 

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