So what’s all the fuss about? And is it really serious? The answer to the second question is “I’m not sure yet, but it certainly could be an omen of the future.”

The answer to the first, is that there’s now a MASSIVE flag of the Hashemite dynasty flying over Jordan. More specifically, over the Jordanian King’s compound on the Gulf of Aqaba. What was originally thought to be a new watchtower erected to keep an eye on goings on in the gulf, turns out to be a VERY large flag (some 262 x 44 ft.) flying from what is now known to be a 446 ft. tall flagpole.

Big deal you might say? Well, there’s some significance to this flag when viewed in the historical context of the greater Middle East. The Hashemites enter prominence in the region by way of Mohammad. Mohammad’s great-grandfather was a Hashemite, and therefore passed that heritage to the Prophet. The most revered Hashemite line was carried on by Hassan, who was the grandson of the Prophet and son of the fourth Caliph named Ali. Hassan was the last Hashemite to make a claim to the Califate but his descendents became the Emirs of Mecca. The last ruler of this line was Hussein bin Ali, who was also the King of Hijaz.

Hussein bin Ali was conquered by Ibn Saudi (who in 1924 took control of the Holy sites of Islam and founded Saudi Arabia), overt Hashemite rule went into hibernation at this point.

Now the colonial powers stepped in sometime later and put Hashemite rulers back in power, the sons of Hussein, were placed on the thrones of the newly created Jordan (Abdullah) and Iraq (Faisal). Faisal was assassinated in the 1958 coup that led to the rise of the Baathists and Saddam Hussein.

The Hashemite line was gone (somewhat) in Iraq, but continued in Jordan through Abdullah (murdered in 1951), his son Hussein (installed as a boy king and who died in 1999) and finally Abdullah’s grandson, Abullah II who reigns today.

So there’s the history, but what does it all mean.

Well, the flag in itself is a symbolic statement. Such statements are very important in the Arab world. The flag represents an appeal to the people of Iraq who share a common ancestry with Jordan. The Hashemites view themselves as the legitimate Guardians of Islamic Shrines and the true defenders of the Islamic faith. The Hashemites view Saudi Arabia and it’s Wahhabist sect as usurpers, and their spawn, al-Queda, as an offront to Islam. With this flag, the Jordanians seem to be saying to the world that there’s a new historic-religious-political force awakening in the Middle East and it represents the true faith of Islam.

It’s considered improper in the Islamic world for one Muslim to criticize another in the view of non-Muslims, that’s the primary reason you don’t see Muslims the world over rising up to condemn the actions of al-Queda, so you have to look for subtle statements of solidarity, condemnation and support when you look at this world. While not “exactly subtle” this flag is perhaps a very pointed message to the Arab world, Iraq and al-Queda specifically.

The Jordanians seem to be saying to the Iraqis that they support the Iraqi people and their Hashemite heritage. I would suggest that it’s also a message to al-Queda that their version of Islam is not the true faith and teaching of Mohammad and that Jordan is ready to embrace a return to the pre-Ibn Saud era of Islam, it’s also one of the first overt signs in the region that the Arab world is turning against al-Queda.

Al-Queda’s roots are in Saudi Arabia, in 1979, Otheiba tribesmen in Saudi Arabia made a challenge to the throne, these Wahhabists seized control of many areas of Saudi Arabia including the Grand Mosque in Mecca, sensing that they were losing control, the Saudis first appealed to Jordan for help. Jordan agreed to send in commandos to help dislodge the radicals, but insisted that concessions to Jordan be made, namely returning some areas of the Hijaz to Hashemite control. The Saudis recoiled at this suggestion and turned to the French for help, the rebellion wasn’t so much put down, as it was “absorbed” by the Saudis. The Saudis tilted toward the Wahhabi faith and the fundamentalists within the new Wahhabist Saudi Arabia eventually created al-Queda and continue to support them.

Today, Saudis and the Jordanians are allies in the Arab world but each has one hand behind their back and keep their distance. The Jordanians are upset that Islam is being corrupted and it’s world view has turned toward hatred and radical extremism. With the balance of power in the Middle East in flux, it seems that the question may be developing “Which version of Islam is to be supported in the Middle East, Wahhabism or Hashemite. Both claim to be the “Defenders of the Faith” of Islam, and although Saudi Arabia may hold geographic control of the shrines and holy places, it now seems that a Hashemite wind is rising in the Middle East, and it’s now blowing a big flag pointed straight at Baghdad.