Word: abdullah
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...Zarqawi, born Ahmad Nazzal Fadil al Khalayilah (his nom de guerre is an adaptation of Zarqa, his industrial hometown in northern Jordan) has been engaged in a long-running struggle with Jordan's King Abdullah II. Their duel began immediately after Abdullah ascended the throne in 1999, when he freed the Jordanian militant from prison in a general amnesty. Zarqawi, 39, had been jailed in the early 1990s on sedition charges after joining an Islamic fundamentalist group. He repaid Abdullah's royal gesture by starting a relentless terrorism campaign against Jordanian monarchy. In turn, Abdullah has stood firm against Islamic...
...Abdullah's supporters say their man is more likely to dedicate himself anew to reform. "Prepare to be surprised," says a senior UMNO official. "Worrying about Endon has been a distraction for the Prime Minister. Once he has had a chance to mourn her passing, you'll find that he comes back much more focused and more determined than ever to fulfill his agenda." Abdul Razak Baginda, who heads a pro-administration think tank, the Malaysian Strategic Research Center, observes: "He may even be stronger. After all, he promised his wife that he would soldier on and leave behind...
...simmering dispute between Abdullah's predecessor and one of his most senior cabinet ministers could be a bellwether of his commitment to reform. Mahathir and Rafidah Aziz, the International Trade and Industry Minister, are engaged in a very public spat over thousands of permits issued by her ministry to import cars. The ex-PM says the permit holders are circumventing heavy tariffs aimed at propping up the country's automobile industry, crippling Proton, the national car company he set up while in office. Mahathir has also noted that the largest recipient of import permits is a former senior official...
...Last week, Promuda, an ?lite organization of young professionals, urged Abdullah to fire Rafidah and to order a thorough probe into how and why a few individuals were awarded these highly lucrative permits. "The PM cannot act as though he is an innocent bystander," wrote Promuda chairman Don Rahim in an Oct. 16 e-mail to members. "The public is looking for leadership and decision." Other critics take an even stronger line, urging Abdullah to shake up the entire cabinet, which they argue is heavy with holdovers from the Mahathir...
...days, at least, Abdullah will be forgiven for devoting his thoughts to the memory of Endon. Speaking to reporters on the day after her death, Abdullah replied "lonely, lonely" when asked how he felt. The question for many Malaysians is whether, without his companion of 40 years, their Prime Minister will find the rough and tumble world of politics lonelier then he can bear...