Quote

When there's a status quo, usually what shakes everybody up is some sort of military confrontation, at which point we all come running and screaming to pick up the pieces.

Abdallah II

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Abdallah II
Picks
Come
Usually
Military
Pieces
Confrontation
Sort
Screaming
Everybody
Shakes
Status
Point
Pick
Running

More quotes by Abdallah II

Image
I think it's almost impossible for any expert to predict for the rapid changes we see in the Middle East. They are rapid and they will continue for quite a while.
Abdallah II
Image
If you have a government that is elected, they need to do the hard work - because if they don't, they won't be around the next time the ballot box is open.
Abdallah II
Image
The brave pilot gave his life defending his faith, country and nation and joined other Jordanian martyrs who gave their lives for Jordan.
Abdallah II
Image
I'm easily entertained.
Abdallah II
Image
I think the debate in our society now is that people have to agree on zero-tolerance to terrorism.
Abdallah II
Image
For me, I am left leaning when it comes to health and education, on the right when it comes to defense. So I don't know where I come on the political spectrum. And I think this the challenge that a lot of Jordanians have to deal with.
Abdallah II
Image
Peace with Israel is a strategic imperative for Jordan.
Abdallah II
Image
Ten years ago I said, you know, my goal is to be able to get food on the table. What I'm trying to say by that is trying to create a vibrant, capable and effective middle class. The quicker and stronger that we can be able to do this, the easier it is for political reform to move forward.
Abdallah II
Image
No matter what's happening in the Middle East - the Arab Spring, et cetera, the economic challenges, high rates of unemployment - the emotional, critical issue is always the Israeli-Palestinian one.
Abdallah II
Image
Today more than ever we need creative minds to address the issues of the age. And one of the most urgent is this: How can humanity know so much, achieve so much, and still fail so many people so badly?
Abdallah II
Image
At the end of the day we want to bring stability and hope to Iraq. That's the only way to defeat terrorism.
Abdallah II
Image
I hope that none of the countries in the Middle East are planning anything but the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy.
Abdallah II
Image
Jordan has to show the Arab world that there's another way of doing things. We're a monarchy, yes, but if we can show democracy that leads to a two-, three-, four-party system - left, right and center - in a couple of years' time, then the Muslim Brotherhood will no longer be something to contend with.
Abdallah II
Image
I think the success of democracy is not really police security it's the presence of a broad middle class. The stronger the middle class of a people is, the less you have to worry about one group coming in and exploiting the democratic process for its own ends.
Abdallah II
Image
Many occasions I've sat down with Israelis to say, where do you see your country in 10 years time, and work me back, so we can figure out the synergies and the connections between Israel and the rest of the Arab world. No Israeli has ever been able to answer that question.
Abdallah II
Image
When we try to push the envelope, there are certain sectors of society that say this is a Zionist plot to sort of destabilize our country, or this is an American agenda.
Abdallah II
Image
The Middle East has the highest unemployment percentage of any region in the world we have the largest youth cohort of history coming into the market place that frustration does translate into the political sphere when people are hungry and without jobs.
Abdallah II
Image
Remember you don't do anything in isolation.
Abdallah II
Image
If everybody is happy, then something is wrong with the democratic process.
Abdallah II
Image
Don't take 'no' for an answer.
Abdallah II