Sugar Cubes

The televised confession of an Iraqi woman accused of being the fourth would-be suicide attacker set Jordanians buzzing on Monday, some expressing joy over her capture and others venting anger over her deadly plans.
Still others questioned if she was really involved in the bomb plot that killed 57 people in Wednesday’s attacks on the Radisson SAS, Grand Hyatt and Days Inn hotels.

Sajida Al Rishawi went from rural Iraqi obscurity to global notoriety overnight after her confession was aired on Sunday, in a broadcast beamed not just across Jordan, but throughout the Middle East and beyond.

“I sat there watching and couldn’t understand how she could be speaking so coldly,” said Adel Fat’hi, 29. Three of his relatives were killed in the Radisson wedding party reception that was bombed by Sajida’s husband.

“It was scary to see her with her bomb but at least we know who she is and she can be punished,” said Anwar Nazih, a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

Many Jordanians, however, expressed doubt Sajida’s confession was real or that she was even involved in the plot.

“I don’t buy it. There are many contradictions, and it just doesn’t make sense,” said Mohammad Al Fakhiri, a 33-year-old mobile telephone shop owner in Amman.

“The first thing she would have done is get rid of her explosive belt,” Al Fakhiri said. “So how come she was caught with it.”

American forces detained and later released an Iraqi with the same name as one of the suicide attackers who struck three hotels in Amman, Jordan, last week, the US military said yesterday.

Jordanian authorities said Safaa Mohammad Ali, 23, was among the suicide attackers who struck last Wednesday at the Grand Hyatt, SAS Radisson and Day’s Inn hotels.

A statement by the US command said someone by that name was detained in November 2004 in connection with the American assault on the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II said on Sunday that his country was in “negotiations” with Iraq over a court conviction against Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi.

A Jordanian court sentenced Chalabi in absentia in 1992 on charges of corruption and embezzlement over the collapse of a bank he was managing. “Well, obviously, we do have an issue with Chalabi,” the monarch said.

[Via GulfNews]

I don’t understand what has Chalabi’s story to do with the bombings?

Related tags: Amman explosion, Amman, explosion