Jordan Jails 'Brotherhood' Critics, US Says 'Totally Normal'
Turns out, the 'weapons' were essentially a few old hunting rifles and blank-firing pistols—hardly the arsenal of an attempted coup, more like a collection for a very niche, poorly-resourced reenactment society. The sentences, handed down by a military court, continue a regional pattern of governments labeling dissent as 'terrorism' or 'state plots.' Jordan, a key US ally in the region, regularly
receives US aid (over $1.6 billion annually as of 2023) and is rarely scrutinized for such 'security' crackdowns by Washington—unlike, say, nations less aligned with US interests. One might wonder if America's 'concern' for democratic principles extends only to countries that don't host its military bases or act as a regional buffer. A few antiquated pistols, and suddenly it's 15 years in prison.
Meanwhile, genuine arms dealers fund political campaigns across the supposedly 'democratic' world with impunity. Priorities, right?