Viewpoint

King Hussein was a champion of peace

Although he was the target of many coup and assassination attempts, in the end, it was not a bullet that brought death. It was a disease with symptoms so unyielding that even doctors at the Mayo Clinic could not delay its inevitability for long. What finally ended King Hussein's rule was none other than an internal weakness, over which Hussein had little, if any, control. On Sunday, Feb. 7, Jordan's skilled ruler and peacemaker died of heart failure, after several years of treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphatic cancer.

King Hussein's 45-year reign was also quite delicate, constantly at risk from dissent and strife. In a country with few natural resources and an underdeveloped economy, Hussein always had the difficulty of doing the best "with the cards he was dealt." He inherited a kingdom in what was arguably the most unstable region of the world during his reign. Yet overall, he did a masterful job.

While he might have seemed superhuman at times, Hussein certainly did have his share of mistakes. After all, he did defy his military advisers, succumbing to pressure to join in the Six Day War against Israel. In so doing, he lost trust, much of his military, as well as the West Bank and East Jerusalem. He also refused to back the United States in the Persian Gulf War against Iraq.

But alas, Hussein was only human, and moreover, his mistakes were outweighed by his great deeds. Indeed, as Hussein got older and matured, he proved to the world that he was different than so many other rulers in the region. After negotiating a peace agreement with Israel in 1994, and after his kind words upon the death of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Hussein undeniably showed his true character. For in the end, though plagued by a region and era replete with hatred and war, Hussein transcended the seemingly impossible. As a recent article in The New York Times asserts, many Israelis saw Hussein as "Israel's one genuine friend in the Arab world." He was a genuine man of peace, more recently helping to broker the October Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Maryland. Hussein was usually able to balance the conflicting interests of the disparate groups that sought to influence him. Even when such balancing proved impossible, and attempts at his life were made, he miraculously managed to escape. For example, at the age of 15, when his grandfather was assassinated, all that saved King Hussein from taking a bullet to the heart was a medal on his uniform.

King Hussein left his son, Abdullah, a difficult act to follow. Hopefully, Abdullah can successfully emulate his father. His strong popularity with the Jordanian military may prove to be an essential asset and stabilizing factor in his regime. It would be ideal if Abdullah could use his influence to continue to rally Israelis and Palestinians in support of peace. Finally, his Western education, enthusiasm and charisma make Abdullah an attractive world leader.

King Hussein left the world a better place than before. He was a great man. Yet I say so not only as a University student and a proponent of peace. I say so as a proud American, as a proud supporter of both Israel and Jordan and as a proud Jew.

- Steve Rosenberg can be reached

over e-mail at steveros@umich.edu.

02-15-99